DEVOL - Allen Marshall DeVol "AJ", age 15, of Jenison, was taken into the arms of Jesus very unexpectedly of accidental injuries on Monday, January 28, 2002.
AJ was a big strong boy who was sweet, gentle, and loved music and art. He was a very gifted student at Jenison High School and had a great love for computers.
AJ was the beloved only son of Allen and Connie DeVol. He will be sadly missed by them; his dog Higgens; his aunts and uncles, Bonnie Bob Engel, Don Thorp, Larry Pat Thorp, Jackie Gordon Horvat, Susan Purcey, Pat Bernie Hillary, Michael DeVol, Daniel Patsy DeVol, James Charlene DeVol, Linda Dean Kindle, and Kim Bob Irish; his many cousins and special friends.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1481 Baldwin Dr. with Rev. Tracy Taylor-Kunst of Ada Congregational Church officiating. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
The family will meet with relatives and friends on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home, Jenison 1889 Baldwin Dr.
December 23, 2011
GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- An Ottawa County family's home is capturing the neighborhood's attention this holiday season through a memorial for a lost son.
The DeVol family in the 8800 block of Cottonwood Drive in Georgetown Township is lighting their home with a special tribute to their son, who was hit and killed by a car almost ten years ago.
The DeVols' home does not feature Christmas decorations or much holiday cheer, but you will see the words "I love you, A.J." and pictures of DeVols' only son.
"Christmas meant a lot to me, but it doesn't much anymore," says Connie DeVol, A.J's mother.
"I wish he was still here so I didn't have to do this," says Allen DeVol, A.J.'s father.
Next month marks ten years since A.J. Devol was killed.
"You always have pain in your heart," says Connie.
The 15-year-old was hit by a car while walking to his school bus.
"It was the best almost sixteen years of my life," says Allen.
Just off the street from where the accident happened is another memorial for A.J. His mother hopes it serves as a reminder to drivers.
"It will say to a lot of them slow down and watch where you're going," says Connie.
A.J.'s mother still keeps his room the same way it was before he died -- with all his awards and a picture of the boy in his football jersey. But neither parent needs a photo to remember.
"I can close my eyes and still see him standing in front of me," says Allen.
"I'm hoping every Christmas he looks down from heaven and sees these lights and knows how much we love him," says Connie.
The DeVols also have a "garden of angels" in memory of A.J. in the summer.
They say they'll continue to light their home with his name each Christmas for the rest of their lives.
Reported by Alex Shabad in Georgetown Township
AJ was a big strong boy who was sweet, gentle, and loved music and art. He was a very gifted student at Jenison High School and had a great love for computers.
AJ was the beloved only son of Allen and Connie DeVol. He will be sadly missed by them; his dog Higgens; his aunts and uncles, Bonnie Bob Engel, Don Thorp, Larry Pat Thorp, Jackie Gordon Horvat, Susan Purcey, Pat Bernie Hillary, Michael DeVol, Daniel Patsy DeVol, James Charlene DeVol, Linda Dean Kindle, and Kim Bob Irish; his many cousins and special friends.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1481 Baldwin Dr. with Rev. Tracy Taylor-Kunst of Ada Congregational Church officiating. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
The family will meet with relatives and friends on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home, Jenison 1889 Baldwin Dr.
December 23, 2011
GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- An Ottawa County family's home is capturing the neighborhood's attention this holiday season through a memorial for a lost son.
The DeVol family in the 8800 block of Cottonwood Drive in Georgetown Township is lighting their home with a special tribute to their son, who was hit and killed by a car almost ten years ago.
The DeVols' home does not feature Christmas decorations or much holiday cheer, but you will see the words "I love you, A.J." and pictures of DeVols' only son.
"Christmas meant a lot to me, but it doesn't much anymore," says Connie DeVol, A.J's mother.
"I wish he was still here so I didn't have to do this," says Allen DeVol, A.J.'s father.
Next month marks ten years since A.J. Devol was killed.
"You always have pain in your heart," says Connie.
The 15-year-old was hit by a car while walking to his school bus.
"It was the best almost sixteen years of my life," says Allen.
Just off the street from where the accident happened is another memorial for A.J. His mother hopes it serves as a reminder to drivers.
"It will say to a lot of them slow down and watch where you're going," says Connie.
A.J.'s mother still keeps his room the same way it was before he died -- with all his awards and a picture of the boy in his football jersey. But neither parent needs a photo to remember.
"I can close my eyes and still see him standing in front of me," says Allen.
"I'm hoping every Christmas he looks down from heaven and sees these lights and knows how much we love him," says Connie.
The DeVols also have a "garden of angels" in memory of A.J. in the summer.
They say they'll continue to light their home with his name each Christmas for the rest of their lives.
Reported by Alex Shabad in Georgetown Township
DEVOL - Allen Marshall DeVol "AJ", age 15, of Jenison, was taken into the arms of Jesus very unexpectedly of accidental injuries on Monday, January 28, 2002.
AJ was a big strong boy who was sweet, gentle, and loved music and art. He was a very gifted student at Jenison High School and had a great love for computers.
AJ was the beloved only son of Allen and Connie DeVol. He will be sadly missed by them; his dog Higgens; his aunts and uncles, Bonnie Bob Engel, Don Thorp, Larry Pat Thorp, Jackie Gordon Horvat, Susan Purcey, Pat Bernie Hillary, Michael DeVol, Daniel Patsy DeVol, James Charlene DeVol, Linda Dean Kindle, and Kim Bob Irish; his many cousins and special friends.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1481 Baldwin Dr. with Rev. Tracy Taylor-Kunst of Ada Congregational Church officiating. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
The family will meet with relatives and friends on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home, Jenison 1889 Baldwin Dr.
December 23, 2011
GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- An Ottawa County family's home is capturing the neighborhood's attention this holiday season through a memorial for a lost son.
The DeVol family in the 8800 block of Cottonwood Drive in Georgetown Township is lighting their home with a special tribute to their son, who was hit and killed by a car almost ten years ago.
The DeVols' home does not feature Christmas decorations or much holiday cheer, but you will see the words "I love you, A.J." and pictures of DeVols' only son.
"Christmas meant a lot to me, but it doesn't much anymore," says Connie DeVol, A.J's mother.
"I wish he was still here so I didn't have to do this," says Allen DeVol, A.J.'s father.
Next month marks ten years since A.J. Devol was killed.
"You always have pain in your heart," says Connie.
The 15-year-old was hit by a car while walking to his school bus.
"It was the best almost sixteen years of my life," says Allen.
Just off the street from where the accident happened is another memorial for A.J. His mother hopes it serves as a reminder to drivers.
"It will say to a lot of them slow down and watch where you're going," says Connie.
A.J.'s mother still keeps his room the same way it was before he died -- with all his awards and a picture of the boy in his football jersey. But neither parent needs a photo to remember.
"I can close my eyes and still see him standing in front of me," says Allen.
"I'm hoping every Christmas he looks down from heaven and sees these lights and knows how much we love him," says Connie.
The DeVols also have a "garden of angels" in memory of A.J. in the summer.
They say they'll continue to light their home with his name each Christmas for the rest of their lives.
Reported by Alex Shabad in Georgetown Township
AJ was a big strong boy who was sweet, gentle, and loved music and art. He was a very gifted student at Jenison High School and had a great love for computers.
AJ was the beloved only son of Allen and Connie DeVol. He will be sadly missed by them; his dog Higgens; his aunts and uncles, Bonnie Bob Engel, Don Thorp, Larry Pat Thorp, Jackie Gordon Horvat, Susan Purcey, Pat Bernie Hillary, Michael DeVol, Daniel Patsy DeVol, James Charlene DeVol, Linda Dean Kindle, and Kim Bob Irish; his many cousins and special friends.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1481 Baldwin Dr. with Rev. Tracy Taylor-Kunst of Ada Congregational Church officiating. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
The family will meet with relatives and friends on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home, Jenison 1889 Baldwin Dr.
December 23, 2011
GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- An Ottawa County family's home is capturing the neighborhood's attention this holiday season through a memorial for a lost son.
The DeVol family in the 8800 block of Cottonwood Drive in Georgetown Township is lighting their home with a special tribute to their son, who was hit and killed by a car almost ten years ago.
The DeVols' home does not feature Christmas decorations or much holiday cheer, but you will see the words "I love you, A.J." and pictures of DeVols' only son.
"Christmas meant a lot to me, but it doesn't much anymore," says Connie DeVol, A.J's mother.
"I wish he was still here so I didn't have to do this," says Allen DeVol, A.J.'s father.
Next month marks ten years since A.J. Devol was killed.
"You always have pain in your heart," says Connie.
The 15-year-old was hit by a car while walking to his school bus.
"It was the best almost sixteen years of my life," says Allen.
Just off the street from where the accident happened is another memorial for A.J. His mother hopes it serves as a reminder to drivers.
"It will say to a lot of them slow down and watch where you're going," says Connie.
A.J.'s mother still keeps his room the same way it was before he died -- with all his awards and a picture of the boy in his football jersey. But neither parent needs a photo to remember.
"I can close my eyes and still see him standing in front of me," says Allen.
"I'm hoping every Christmas he looks down from heaven and sees these lights and knows how much we love him," says Connie.
The DeVols also have a "garden of angels" in memory of A.J. in the summer.
They say they'll continue to light their home with his name each Christmas for the rest of their lives.
Reported by Alex Shabad in Georgetown Township
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A.J.
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