Howard DeVore

May 20, 1927 -

May 5, 2021

Reverend Howard DeVore died on May 5, 2021, at 93, following the death of his wife Betty DeVore in July 2019, a month short of their 72nd wedding anniversary. Howard served at the end of World War II and left the army with plans for the ministry. Howard and Betty married in their hometown, Centerville, Iowa, in 1947.

Howard graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1950, and Garrett Theological Seminary in 1954. He served as a United Methodist minister at churches in Iowa: Fairfield circuit, Mt. Union, Gravity and Menlo. Howard and Betty became national missionaries and served churches in Alaska: Nome, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Briefly, Howard served a church in Hermiston, Ore.

Howard and Betty returned to Alaska in 1974, where Howard became the coordinator of the Alaska Office of Volunteer Services and, later, the Office on Aging, until his retirement in 1992. Howard earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Alaska in 1983, and a Doctor of Ministry from Garrett in 1993. In retirement, Howard served the Asbury United Methodist Church in Eugene.

Born in the depression, Howard worked tirelessly - whether hands-on construction projects, making a playground, building a cabin or creating vegetable gardens. He was an earnest member of the Rotary International Club. Above all, he was devoted to his sweetheart of 72 years.

Howard succumbed to dementia and a heart ailment. Among his final words was the Lord's Prayer.

Howard and Betty are survived by two sons and their wives, Joel and Trish, and Jon and Michele; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Howard and Betty were interred together recently in the Eugene Masonic Cemetery. Gifts in their memory may be made in support of your place of worship or to the thank-you fund for staff, who can't accept tips, the Cascade Manor Employee Fund, 65 West 30th St., Eugene, OR 97405.