Rev. Leon Hasper Hevener, 83, of Upper Tract went to his heavenly home on Sept. 21, 2026, while a patient at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
He was born April 5, 1943, at Kline and was the son of the late Jesse James Hevener and Violet Kathleen Armentrout Hevener.
Rev. Hevener was a 1961 graduate of Franklin High School and a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1968.
In 1979, he received his bachelor of arts degree from Davis and Elkins College and in 1982, his master of divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
He was a member of Elkins Masonic Lodge No. 108, A.F. & A.M., Elkins Chapter No. 35 Royal Arch and Pilgrim Commandery No. 21, where he served as prelate.
He worked at Pendleton Motor Sales. In 1975, he was called to serve as pastor of the St. Paul-Parsons United Methodist charge at Irons Chapel UMC, Harts Chapel UMC, Israel UMC and Mercy Chapel. In 1979, he began serving as pastor of the South Fork-Brandywine charge (Riverside UMC at Brandywine, Francis Asbury UMC at Sugar Grove, Fairview-Bethel UMC at Ft. Seybert and Zion UMC at Milam). Starting in 1984 he pastored in Reedsville and was under appointment in the Baltimore Conference in 1988.
He began serving the St. John’s-Parsons charge starting in 1991; the Lost Creek charge in 1997; and the Otterbine-Elkins charge from 2001 until his retirement in 2007. After moving back to Pendleton County, he continued to serve local area churches as needed.
He enjoyed whittling, walking and spending time at the Pendleton County Senior Center.
On Feb. 14, 1962, he married Geraldine Shay Vandevander Hevener, who survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Lisa Shay Burns (Rick) of Parsons; a son, James Leon Hevener (Susan) of Chesterfield, Virginia; a brother, Hal Hevener (Tina) of Idamay; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Spears (Daniel), Bethany Pennington (Chris), Joshua Burns (fiancée, Autumn Pifer), Betty Sue Varner (Ben), Jessie Williamson (John), Sami Jones (Zane), and Sara Hevener (Nathan Hayes); seven great-grandchildren, Jaydon, Avyanna, Onyx, Brinley, Kensley, Max and Leo; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dwight Hevener and Steven Hevener; and two sisters, Alma Jean Wagoner and Sherry Hevener Kile.
A funeral service was held Saturday at the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin with Pastors J.D. Wilkins and Hal Hevener officiating. A graveside service was conducted at Kline Cemetery by members of Pendleton Lodge No. 144 A.F. & A.M., and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Upper Tract United Methodist Church, c/o Holly See, PO Box 16, Upper Tract, WV 26866.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.kimblefuneralhome.com.
