Funeral services for William “Bill” Elbert DeVaney, Jr., 91 of Florence will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kenny Windsor officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on May 28 prior to the service at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be private.
Mr. DeVaney died on Thursday, May 26 at Mitchell Hollingsworth Nursing Home following an extended illness. He was born on May 1, 1925 in Lauderdale County. He was the son of the late Willie Elbert DeVaney and Lucille Darby DeVaney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara DeVaney; wife, Mary Ruth Bogus DeVaney and son-in-law, Chadwick McFall Barber.
Mr. DeVaney was a lifetime member of Pleasant Hill UMC and a member of Central Civitan Club and Bell South Pioneers. He was retired after 30 years of employment with Bell South. He enjoyed hunting doves and quail and fishing in the many surrounding rivers and lakes.
He proudly served his country in the South Pacific in the submarine service of the United States Navy during WWII.
Surviving are his devoted wife of 37 years, Doris Dean Harrison DeVaney of Florence; son and daughter-in-law, William Gary DeVaney and Tommie Kaye Jackson DeVaney of Florence; granddaughter, Mary Caroline “Cali” DeVaney of Nashville, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Pamela DeVaney Spangler and Russell Spangler of Sautee-Nacooche, GA; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, J. B. and Marcille Harrison of Tuscumbia, Herbie and Ann Harrison, Floyd and Margaret Hall of Florence and Kenneth and Marian Harrison of Carrollton, GA; nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Hale, Wayne Kelley, Phillip Darby, Harold Hall, Floyd Hall and Johnny DeVaney.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Phil Everett’s Men’s Sunday School Class of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Building Fund at 2705 County Road 222, Florence, AL 35633.
The family would like to extend a special thank you Dr. McFall and the staff of Mitchell Hollingsworth of Station Three.
