LaVonne (McNames) PATTERSON

PATTERSON, MCNAMES, FOWLER, LARUE, BARKEMA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/7/2007 at 11:46:02

March 2, 2004

LaVonne Patterson, died on Sunday, February 22, 2004. A graveside service and interment was held on Saturday, February 28, at the Lindenwood Cemetery, Geneva, with Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. The Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond, was in charge of the arrangements.

LaVonne, was born in Ovid, Colorado on November 14, 1910, the daughter of Lee and Ethel (Fowler) McNames. The family returned to Iowa shortly after her birth. Lavonne subsequently lived in Geneva and Hampton, where her father was the Franklin County Sheriff for some years. LaVonne graduated from the Hampton High School in 1928 and from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1930. She taught elementary school in Downer's Grove, Illinois and substituted in the Sheffield Public Schools for many years. In 1936, LaVonne married Hayes "Pat" Patterson of Kansas. They owned the John Deere dealership in Geneva until retirement in the 1970s. At that time they purchased a second home in Sun City, Arizona where LaVonne spent winters through 2002. LaVonne, a tireless volunteer and an avid bridge player, was active in a number of organizations in Sun City and a member of the Hampton Country Club. Pat and LaVonne traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. LaVonne was a talented pianist and amateur organist. For the last eighteen months she was a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and grandson, Shawn LaRue of Belmond. LaVonne is survived by her daughter, Patricia LaRue; granddaughter, Dawn (Delwin) Barkema; great-granddaughters, Brittany and Brenna Barkema, all of Belmond.

©Belmond Independent 2004