Fieldon Tractor Accident Fatality From Rollover

FIELDON - Phillip Guy Devening, 74, died Friday, June 8, 2018 from injuries sustained in a farming accident originally believed to be caused by a fatal heart attack.

A Devening family member said the day of the incident that the tractor rollover was believed to be the result of an apparent fatal heart attack sometime Friday. It was believed that the heart attack led to the rollover. Larry Alexander, Jersey County Coroner, discovered that Devening died from injuries sustained in the rollover.

Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the man by phone on Friday with friends and family becoming alarmed. A search found him unresponsive at the site of the rollover.

Devening was currently serving as the Richwood Township Road Commissioner, a position he has held since 1990, and was sexton and caretaker of the Gunterman Cemetery, a role which he assumed from his father.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Rev. John Shelton will officiate. Burial will be at Gunterman Cemetery in Fieldon.

Memorials may be given to the Gunterman Cemetery, Fieldon United Church of Christ or the Fieldon Volunteer Fire Department.