LeVern Ashley, 96, fell asleep in the Lord early on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at his home and in the company of his beloved wife, Ellie.

Born on May 18, 1928, in Heber Springs, Arkansas to parents, LeRoy Ashley and Minnie Ingram. He had two siblings, an elder sister, Maureen, and an identical twin brother, LeRoy.

LeVern grew up in Morrilton, Arkansas, during the Great Depression in a modest home full of his father’s scholarly books and in the midst of his older sister’s classical piano music. He enjoyed scouting and outdoor adventures in the wild nature of the mountains and rivers nearby. School, he enjoyed not so much.

Directly after high school, he joined the United States Navy and served through the end of World War 2. While in the Navy, he received technical training and found he excelled in metalsmithing. After his military service, LeVern attended college with the assistance of the GI Bill, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering as a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech.

LeVern’s engineering career began at Magnolia Refinery in Beaumont, Texas. But when presented with an exciting offer to join Lockheed in Atlanta, Georgia as a flight test engineer, he jumped at the opportunity. He loved to tell stories about the different aircraft he rode in and evaluated. Eventually, his career brought him back to Texas once again to work in the booming petrochemical industry, and he settled in the Houston area, working as a lead engineer and manager for SIP, Litwin, and Raytheon, respectively.

While he never professed a love for formal education, LeVern demonstrated a consistent devotion to self-directed learning. His office library is filled with his diverse collection of books spanning a range of subjects from metaphysical studies and the history of Christianity to database programming, finance, and modern Greek. He was intentional and reflective about his friendships and personal relationships and learned a great deal from his previous marriage which brought him two sons, LeVern Jr. and Larry, whom he always dearly loved.

LeVern would effusively profess to all within earshot that his greatest good fortune came when he met his Ellie, the love of his life. His devotion to her was immediate and unwavering. After an enthusiastic courtship of handwritten cards, flowers, and family dinners, they were married on July 12, 1985. They enjoyed many travels and grand adventures over the 39 years that ensued. He marveled at her many talents, singing her praises constantly and without reservation. After retirement, LeVern championed Ellie as she realized her lifelong dream of opening a restaurant, providing moral support behind the scenes and managing the bookkeeping and administration for nearly 15 years.

LeVern embraced Greek Orthodoxy as his faith and in 1993 helped to establish St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church in Webster, Texas. He could be found serving in the narthex every Sunday until he was well into his 80s and no longer able to do so.

Those who knew him knew LeVern took great care with all he undertook and with everyone he loved. He appreciated detailed planning and preparation. He was generous with his time and talents, and brought the quiet service of structure and mindfulness to the places it was most needed. He set up the tables, he attended to the elders, he brought the extra jacket, he made sure the car had a full tank of gas, he took out the trash, he mowed the lawn.

As age weakened him, he continued to find ways to help—doing laundry and joyfully doting on little Afroditi, their adopted chihuahua-rat terrier and the second love of his life. His family walks in his prayers and rejoices in his eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May his memory be eternal.  Αιώνια του η μνήμη.

LeVern is survived by his loving wife, Ellie Ashley; his son, Larry Ashley; his nephews, Almont Pierce and Richard Ashley; his nieces, Elaine Feickert and Beth Meche; his bonus son, Robert Gates (Veronica); his bonus daughter, Tina Berger (Stephanie); his grandson, Jesse Berger (Jennifer) and a town full of loving relatives and friends too numerous to name. He was preceded in death by his parents LeRoy and Minnie Ashley, his sister, Maureen, his brother LeRoy, his son, LeVern Jr., and his sweet pup, Afroditi.

Services will be as follows:  Trisagion Service on Sunday, December 22^nd, at 6 pm, with visitation between 5 – 7 pm at Crowder Funeral Home, 111 E. Medical Center Blvd, Webster, TX 77598. Funeral service on Monday, December 23^rd, at 10 am, at St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church. Interment service to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Fwy, Dickinson, TX 77539.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in LeVern’s name to St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church.