18th Annual
WHITE GABLES
HOLIDAY LUMINARIA
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Richard Byron Fahner (1940-2021)
White Gables neighbor Richard Byron Fahner was born in Portland Oregon in 1940. He joined the US Navy, earning the rank of lieutenant. He served faithfully and honorably until retiring on September 1, 1979, after 21 years of service.
Richard was a devoted husband to his wife of 51 years, Ella Marie Fahner. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family, sailing, golfing, playing drums and serving in his church and community.
He died on November 28, 2021, and is survived by his spouse Ella Marie Fahner of Summerville, three children; Dennis Mathis (Lisa Mathis) of Adair Village Oregon, Micah Fahnerc(Susan Fahner) of Ridgeville and Katherine "Katie" Whitehouse (Rodney Whitehouse) of Summerville, nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.carolinamemorial.com for the Fahner family or by emailing them to WhiteGablesLuminaria@gmail.com
Joseph John Shevenock (1937-2021)
Joseph, a White Gables resident and the father of neighbor Jennifer (Jen) Easler, was born in Gallitizen, PA. He joined the Navy in 1955, serving until 1962. His focus was on electrical engineering during his service.
He married Margaret (Peggy) Sisto in 1966 and worked for AT&T, where he retired as a district supervisor after 36 years. Joseph and his wife lived in Altoona, PA, Virginia, and, at the time of his retirement, Pennsylvania. In the early years of his retirement, he and Peggy traveled the east coast and spent time with their 1st grandchild, Jedrek. They also traveled to watch Jen, their youngest child, play college basketball.
The couple took many trips per year to visit grandchildren in Summerville. In 2018, they relocated to Summerville to be near their grandchildren. Joseph a always had an active role volunteering for children with special needs. He served for many years as a board member for Supportive Concepts group home where his youngest son lives.
Joseph was a devoted husband and father. He preached God, family, and company. He was a teacher, especially to his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and godchildren. Often given the name “professor Joe” in humor.
He died on November 23, 2021, leaving his wife Marageret Shevenock, sons Jeffrey (Cyndi) Shevenock, Joseph Jr. Shevenock, daughter Jennifer (Travis) Easler, grandchildren Jedrek Shevenock, Blake Easler, Scarlett Easler and Hudson Easler, and Brother Michael Shevenock.
Memories and condolences can be sent to whitegablesluminaria@gmail.com to be passed on to family members.
Ann Haywood Beeler (1936-2021)
White Gables neighbor, Ann Haywood Beeler was born on August 31, 1936, in Washington, D.C. She began her career in business, was a long-time successful real-estate agent in New York, collected art and antiques, and eventually pursued these collective interests by buying, restoring, and selling historic homes, all while raising two children on her own.
She was active in historic-preservation groups in upstate New York, Maine, Savannah, and Charleston, and was a long-time member of the Junior League, most recently in Savannah. She had style and a great design sense, all revealed in the beautifully decorated homes she created during her lifetime.
Ann died on June 2, 2021. Near the end of her life, when asked whether she had spent too much time working, she said, “Oh, no. I have had a wonderful life.”
She is survived by her daughter, Laurel, a federal judge in San Francisco, and her three sisters, Beth, Holly, and Robin, who live in South Portland, Maine. In 2018, her son Jeff and her brother Steve preceded her in death. Those who loved her miss her terribly and think of her every day.
Memories and condolences can be sent to whitegablesluminaria@gmail.com to be passed on to family members.
Linda Riser Groggel (1945-2021)
Former White Gables resident Linda Groggel was, along with her husband Dwight, a leader in the neighborhood. They were active with Luminaria, helped found the first neighborhood watch group and were remembered in the community for helping in many ways.
Linda was born in 1945 in Charleston. She attended James Island High School, where she met Dwight Groggel, a student at nearby St. Andrews High School. Their story started on a blind date where they attended a homecoming football game. After high school, she attended Lander College, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She and Dwight married in 1967. From Charleston, they began a lifetime of adventures, traveling to Dwight’s US Air Force dutystations both stateside and abroad, including to Washington DC, South Korea, and the Netherlands.
In 1975, after earning a Master's Degree from George Washington University Linda was one of the first teachers to pilot preschool special education classrooms. She loved and advocated for children along the full spectrum of disabilities.
After retirement, Linda and Dwight relocated here to Summerville and then, in 2014,
again to Charlotte, NC, to be nearer to their children and grandchildren. In 2018, Linda lost Dwight after a three-year battle with cancer. As she had helped coordinate her high school reunions, she reconnected with former classmate & renowned Charleston artist Jim Booth, himself a recent widower.
They married on August 6, 2020, and enjoyed a brief marriage until his death on June 2, 2021. She passed away on July 20, 2021, leaving behind her son, Richard “Scott” Groggel, his wife Charity and sons John and David, as well as her daughter Emily Shepherd, her husband Trae, and their children Lorien, Ian, and Lucy.
Memories and condolences can be sent to whitegablesluminaria@gmail.com to be passed on to family members.