Jearl Wayne Dunavin, 79, of Greenville, Texas, passed away October 16, 2012 at the Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.. A memorial service will be at 3:00 PM Saturday at the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville with Dr. James Ralson and Mr. James Evans officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Jearl was born May 18, 1933 in the community of Brinker in Hopkins County, Texas to Maudie May Stephenson Dunavin and Arthur Jo Dunavin. Jearl attended public schools in Sulphur Springs, Texas and received a Bachelor’s degree from the East Texas Teachers College in 1955 before receiving a Master’s degree from East Texas State University in 1961. He was very proud to serve in the U. S. Air Force as a helicopter pilot and officer in active duty from 1955 to 1958 and as a reserve officer until retiring as a captain of the Air Force Reserve. Jearl began his career as a teacher in 1958 and worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator for 37 years and continued to teach as a substitute until shortly before his death. His passion was teaching and working with people, influencing the lives of many young Greenvillites from 1964 through 2012.
He was married to the love of his life, Helen Adams Dunavin for 56 years. Their family includes Richard Dunavin, Lisa Dunavin, Michael Dunavin, Ashley Dunavin, Crystal Dunavin, Neil Dunavin, Lulu Dunavin, Caitlyn Maddox, Haley Dunavin, and Aidan Dunavin. Other family includes Dorothy Dunavin, Carla Hurley, Angie Fanagan, Misty Whitener, Mozelle Rutledge, Loye Adams Jr., Edith White, La Vada Simpson and Patsy Boshears-Crawford and their children. He also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Bobby Joe Dunavin, his beloved grandson Neil Dunavin and an infant sister.
For more information or to express condolences, visit www.cokermathews.com
