Kenneth Davern

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - Prayers will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at the Holy Family Parish for Kenneth Coade Davern, 86, who passed away Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, at Heath Village, Retirement Community, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 7, 1928, in Erie, Pa., to Eugene and Elsie Malone Maille and was later the son of Eugene and Lucille Davern in Ashtabula.

He was a graduate of Ashtabula High School and was president of both his junior and senior classes.

He married his high school sweetheart, the former Ann Harmon, on Nov. 25, 1950, who passed away July 1, 2008, after 58 years of marriage.

They had four children that he leaves to cherish his memory, Karen (Randy) Brown of Cortland, Beth (Rick) Ortz of Liberty, Greg of Youngstown and Mary Kay Vivo (fiancé Jim Khoury) of Belvidere, N.J. He also leaves six grandchildren, Sean (Jennie) Ortz of Cape Coral, Fla., Lindsay (Kyle) Thomas of Kent, Gregory of Struthers, twins Nicholas and Kevin Vivo of New Jersey, and Mary Jo (Rasheen) Moore of Boardman; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Madlyn Cress of Ashtabula; and his former son-in-law, Brian Vivo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Victoria Vivo; and his brothers, John, Paul, Louis, Charles and James Maille.

Ken was in the Air Force stationed in Washington, D.C,. in the Office of Special Investigation. He attended American University Washington, D.C., Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and Youngstown State University, majoring in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations.

After his military service he joined Carlisle's Department Store and was the Advertising Manager of Ashtabula and Warren. He later opened Davern and Associates Advertising in downtown Youngstown. From 1988 to 2001 Mr. Davern was Senior Consultant with GA Wright International Retail Marketing of Denver and traveled extensively throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Virgin Islands.

During his semi-retirement Ken was consultant to Classic Creations in Diamonds and Gold in Venice, Fla., from 1990 to 2012, and who were also his longtime friends.

He was a former longtime member of St. Edward Parish of Youngstown and most recently the Holy Family Parish in Poland, before moving to Heath Village two years ago. He was an usher, a member of the human relations committee and a member of St Vincent DePaul Society. He was an avid Notre Dame fan and a YSU Penguins fan. He was active in many community organizations throughout his lifetime.

Family and friends may pay their respects Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.