Funeral Service for Edward J. Abernathy, 92 of Poteau, Oklahoma will be at 10:00AM on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the First Baptist Church with Jim Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau, Oklahoma.
Edward J. Abernathy passed away on September 19, 2023. He died peacefully at home surrounded by family. He was born in Milton, Oklahoma to Dolar Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Tolbert) Abernathy. He was the youngest of five children: two brothers, J.B. Abernathy and wife Daisy Abernathy of Bokoshe, Oklahoma; Clayton Abernathy and wife Ophe, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Audry Sampson and Herman, of Poteau, Oklahoma, and Frankie Blankenship and husband Dwight of Stigler, Oklahoma. His parents, his siblings, and their spouses preceded him in death.
Ed graduated from Bokoshe High School, in Bokoshe, OK, in 1949. He attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK, and graduated from Oklahoma A&M (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, in 1953. Ed married Joanne (Williams) Abernathy, on September 4, 1954, as he began his career with the United States Department of Agriculture, Leflore County District Soil and Water Conservation. Ed was relocated to Beaver, OK, Duncan, OK, Sallisaw, OK, and in 1964, he was transferred to Poteau, OK where he continued his work with the USDA until his retirement in 1985.
In 1986, Ed served LeFlore County in many capacities over the years. He retired in 2022 after honorably serving as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Wister Lake 319 Water Quality Program in LeFlore and Latimer Counties, Chair of the Watershed Advisor Group for the Wister Lake Program, and finally the District Director of the Leflore County Conservation District. In 2022, Edward received a Congressional Citation for his service.
Ed has served the First Baptist Church for over 40 years as a Deacon, Chairman of the Deacons, and numerous committees, prayer groups, and community outreach. He gave his time and effort whenever and wherever needed. He served Christ, his family, and the community faithfully, touching many people’s lives, and always demonstrating personal integrity and dedication to those he encountered.
Ed was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Joanne Abernathy. He is survived by a son, Dr. Bryan Abernathy; a daughter, Shauna Sterling, and husband Brent Sterling, all of Fayetteville, AR; his five grandchildren, Brett Sterling and wife, Jenny of Fayetteville, AR; Jordan (Abernathy) Hoff and husband, Chris of Seminole, FL; Lauren Sterling of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Sydnee (Abernathy) DeAngelis, and husband, Matt of Boston, MS; Reid Abernathy of Fayetteville, AR, and five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
Visitation will be Friday, September 22, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home.
You may leave an online message at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.
Get Local News!
