William R. "Doc" Abernathy

William R. "Doc" Abernathy, 89, of Jonesboro, died at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 in the Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born April 27, 1926 in Anna, the son of Russell and Vesta L. Rendleman Abernathy. He married Joyce L. Dankel on April 4, 1950 in Anna. He later married Patricia "Pat" Casey on Dec. 18, 1982 in Carbondale. She preceded him in death on January 31, 2014.

He is survived by his son, Scott Abernathy of Wolf Lake; two daughters, Beth (Brad) Wilson of Tamms and Kristen (Mike) Eckert of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandchildren, Matt Wilson, Kyle (Mindy) Wilson, Lindsey Del (Justin) Pender, and Jordan Reid Abernathy; two great-grandchildren, Cole Wayne "Bucket" Pender and Shelby Scott Pender; one brother, Bill (Sue) Abernathy of Mt. Pleasant; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Patricia "Pat" Abernathy; one son, William Matthew Abernathy; and one sister, Elizabeth Pickett.

He was a member of the Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy during WWII. After serving in the Navy, Doc attended Southeast Missouri University where he played football and captured the title of "Mr. Cape State of 48".

He had a passion for the outdoors and people. During his career as a professor at SIU he had the opportunity to meet with Eunice Kennedy Shriver to establish the first Special Olympics at McAndrew Stadium at SIU.

In 1961 Doc was part of a group of men that started the first Buffalo Tro at the Touch of Nature in Carbondale. Over the course of the last fifty-four years Doc and his son Scott have cooked and traveled across the country feeding and impressing hundreds of thousands of people.  

Funeral services was at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with Rev. Dennis Scoville officiating. Interment was in the Anna City Cemetery. Graveside military rites was conducted by the Carroll P. Foster Post #3455 of the V.F.W. in Anna and the Navy Funeral Honor Detail. Memorial contributions may be made to the SIU Special Olympics. Envelopes will be available in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home.

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William R. "Doc" Abernathy