LAKE VILLAGE, Arkansas - Jeffrey Thomas Coveny, 77, passed away November 16, 2023, in Lake Village Arkansas where he lived for over 30 years. He was born July 18, 1946, in Streator, Illinois, and grew up on the family farm near Kinsman, Illinois, with his parents Kenneth Coveny and Beatrice McGurk along with his younger siblings Deborah Coveny Ohr, Barbara Coveny, and Gary Coveny. The family sold the farm and moved to Aurora, Illinois when Jeff was in ninth grade.
After attending Northern Illinois University, Jeff’s work experience ranged from working at Caterpillar, Dart Container, and automobile sales before entering the custom carpet industry in the mid-1980s. He joined U.S. Axminster in Greenville founded by his sister Barbara and her husband. Jeff then designed and built his home on Lake Chicot in Lake Village, Arkansas, just across the Mississippi River from Greenville.
After U.S. Axminster was sold to Brintons Carpets and the Greenville operation was closed some years later, Jeff founded Crossley Axminster in Greenville to sell and import custom Axminster carpets from South Africa, China, and other countries for the hospitality and gaming industries. At the time of his death, Jeff was CEO of Crossley Axminster which has become a very successful firm.
Jeff was well-known for his intellectual abilities, knowledge of history, and anything to do with automobiles, especially the fast ones. He was also well known for his love of animals, taking in a variety of cats and dogs that no one else wanted, including a pair of blind dogs. Although he would never hunt or kill an animal, he became an expert and award-winning trap-shooter. He gave to many worthy causes, but always wanted to go unrecognized for his donations.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Deborah Coveny Ohr who passed away just three months before him.
Jeffrey is survived by his sister, Barbara Coveny (Samuel Silver) from Atlanta; brother, Gary (Ruth Grams) Coveny from Aurora; along with nieces and nephews Kenneth (Ryan) Ohr, Christina (Anthony) Bentel, and David (Linda) Ohr; as well as a host of great nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Cremation will be by Bishop-King Funeral Home in Lake Village.
A celebration of Jeff’s life is planned for Sunday, December 10 in Greenville at 1 p.m. (call 662-335-5082 for details). Jeff will be buried with his parents and sister in Ransom, IL on December 13 at the Saint Patricks Cemetery followed by an 11 a.m. luncheon at Maria's Ristorante in Morris, Illinois.
Donations to animal welfare groups would be a great way to honor Jeff’s life.
