Rev. Leon Hasper Hevener, 83, of Upper Tract, West Virginia, went to his heavenly home on Monday, September 21, 2026, while a patient at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
He was born April 5, 1943, at Kline, West Virginia, and was the son of the late Jesse James Hevener and Violet Kathleen Armentrout Hevener.
He was a 1961 graduate of Franklin High School and a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966–1968. He received his B.A. from Davis and Elkins College in 1979 and his Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1982. Rev. Hevener 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 (Brandywine), Francis Asbury UMC (Sugar Grove), Fairview-Bethel UMC (Ft. Seybert) and Zion UMC (Milam); starting in 1984 he pastored in Reedsville, was under appointment in the Baltimore Conference in 1988; 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 February 14, 1962, he married Geraldine Shay Vandevander Hevener, who survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Lisa Shay Burns (Rick) of Parsons, one son, James Leon Hevener (Susan) of Chesterfield, Va., one brother, Hal Hevener (Tina) of Idamay, WV. 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.
The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 25 at Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin where a funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26 with Pastors J.D. Wilkins and Hal Hevener officiating.
A graveside service was conducted at Kline Cemetery by members of Pendleton Lodge #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, P. O. Box 16, Upper Tract, WV 26866.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.kimblefuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin, West Virginia.
