Milton Kevershan Obituary (1933 - 2020)

It is with great sadness that the family of Milton Craig Kevershan, R.Ph. announces that he passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 in Tucson, Arizona. Milton's son, Mike, was at his side holding his hand when he died. The cause of death was pneumonia. Milton was 87. Milton went into the hospital on April Fool's Day and was cremated on Tax Day, April 15, 2020. As a history buff, he would have appreciated the reference to Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "... in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Milton was born February 4, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up there and graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit in 1951. Milton served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. While stationed in Newfoundland, Canada, he met and married his wife of 62 years, Gertrude Ann Parsons. Following his military service, Milton graduated from the College of Pharmacy at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. He first worked as a pharmacist in Happy Camp, California, joining his father who was also a pharmacist. Milton and his family later moved to Tonopah, Nevada where they operated the only drugstore serving several counties. He continued his career as a pharmacist after relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1980, Milton served as the President to the Nevada State Pharmaceutical Association. He also served on the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy from 1986 to 1988. Milton was recognized for his accomplishments by numerous professional organizations throughout his career. Involved with many civic organizations in Happy Camp and Tonopah, Milton served on the Board of Trustees for the Nye County School District and the Tonopah Town Advisory Board. He joined the Masonic Order in 1975 and was elected Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge Number 28 in Tonopah in 1980. In 2015, after retiring some years earlier, Milton and Gertrude moved to La Grande, Oregon, where Milton joined the Masonic Lodge Number 41. He also maintained his membership in the Tonopah Lodge. For many years, Milton and Gertrude were volunteers at the Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas, where they enjoyed meeting with visitors. Gertrude now lives in Tucson with daughter Patty and her husband, Patrick. Eclectic is a good word to describe Milton. He was a Dixieland Jazz groupie (but enjoyed all types of music), a private pilot, avid reader, and teller of bad jokes. Milton was a collector who could not pass a yard sale. He also spent time doing genealogy research. He liked reading about, and discussing, politics and religion (two things you aren't supposed to talk about!?). He and Gertrude enjoyed taking walks, going out to eat, and traveling. Milton was preceded in death by his parents, Milton Cornell and Harriette Ellen (Leader) Kevershan; his sister, Patsy "Pat" Joan (Kevershan) Hogan; brother-in-law Calvin Pike; and sister-in-law Sylvia (Parsons) Walsh and her husband, Fred. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude Ann (Parsons) Kevershan and their three children: daughter Brenda (Kevershan/Huddleston) Dick; daughter Patricia Kevershan and her husband, Patrick Murphy; and son Michael and his wife, Julianna (Jarboe) Kevershan. Milton also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Chad Huddleston and wife Amanda (Russell); Lori (Huddleston) and spouse Jerry Walker; Julie (Dick) Fletcher; and Christopher Dick and wife Sierra Sousa; as well as Michael and Julianna Kevershan's daughters, Kimberly, Kelly, Kristin, and Kaitlyn, who is married to Ethan Burtch-Buus. Milton and Gertrude's great-grandchildren include Kelley Huddleston, Quintyn and Jeffery Walker, Cole Fletcher and Ely Bolin; and Payton and Gracie Dick. He is also survived by James Hogan, husband of his deceased sister, Pat and their children: Kathy (Hogan) and Duane Nansel, Debbie (Hogan) and Shawn Carney, and Teresa (Richardson) and Craig Hogan. Milton leaves behind brothers- and sisters-in-law Gen (Croke) and Alf Parsons, Wanda (Parsons) and Bruce McLellan, Linda (Andrews) and Sam Parsons, and Geri (Parsons) Pike, and their children and grandchildren. Numerous cousins will also miss visiting with Milton, as will his many friends. He had a way of turning strangers into life-long friends. One year has passed since Milton's death, but we are still unable to have a formal memorial service at this time. We look forward to a time when we can all get together, either in person or online. The family appreciates your prayers and thoughts.