Lavonne Irma Anderson

Mt. Morris, IL, Lavonne Irma Anderson, age 100, passed away on July 1st, 2023 at Allure at Pinecrest Manor, Mt. Morris, IL.

Lavonne was born on September 24th, 1922, on the family farm in Cherry Grove Township, Lanark, IL, one of six children born to Elmer and Etta (Bolinger) Gaul.

She married Harry William Anderson in Mt. Morris on April 22, 1945, at the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren. Lavonne & Harry met roller skating in Lanark, IL.

Lavonne attended one room school in Cherry Grove. At 13 she moved into Lanark with Dr. Seyfrath and family where she was a nanny for their two children. This allowed her to attend high school. She graduated from Lanark High School Class of 1941.

In her early working years Lavonne worked at the Savanna, IL ordinance depot soldering ammunition cans during WWII. She also waitressed, performed bookwork, worked at Lawton’s Dairy and the Royal Blue Store. She sold World Book’ Encyclopedias for decades. She assisted Harry in running the Poultry Tribune Experimental Farm for Watt Publishing Co. south of Mt. Morris. Lavonne retired from the sandstone building of Watt Publishing in 1984.

Lavonne was a member of the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren where she taught Sunday School. She had a faith that made her grandchildren envious. She had an unbelievable ability to give life’s struggles to the hands of the Lord. She was also a Girl Scout Leader when Jan and Jo were young.  

1956 moving from the farm, Harry and Lavonne completed their brick home on South McKendrie Ave. Side by side they dug the basement by hand, poured the concrete, cut the rafters and laid all 7,000 bricks. Lavonne lived on the same street for nearly 80 years. From the Poultry Farm, to the brick house, to Pinecrest, Lavonne moved less than one mile.

She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter and was a member of the Pinecreek Ladies. She loved playing Rummikub and Bridge, of which she belonged to several clubs. She and Harry were avid antiquer’s and loved collecting their entire lives. They traveled all across the country, from Maine to Hawaii. They even traveled abroad several times. Their visit to the Holy Land was exceptionally important to them.

Lavonne was spirited and independent, when she believed something, she believed, there was no room for debate. One of her sayings was “a big fat damn it never hurt anyone…….but I pray”. She drove until she was 97 and lived at home until a stroke at 98.

Lavonne is survived by her daughter JoLynn Kay (Michael) Ward, Mt. Morris, IL; son-in-law Gerry Hough III, Mt. Morris, IL; grandchildren, AnnEtta (Gabe) Young, Mt Carroll, IL, Mindy Ward, Savanna, GA, Casey Ward, Mt. Morris, IL, Kelly (Cheryl) Ward, Chattanooga, TN, Kyle (Elizabeth) Ward, Manhattan, KS, Chris (Jason) McCoy, Milwaukee, WI, Rob (Lynnette) Hough IV, Mt. Morris, IL,  Rick Hough, Mt. Morris, IL, Joselyn Hough, Charlotte, NC; 11 great grandchildren, AnnBrielle Young, JL Young, Caleb Ward, Karla Mendoza, Josiah Osborn, Elijah Ward, Benjamin McCoy, Samuel McCoy, Rebecca Hough, RG Hough V, Peyton Boyd; and many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters Beatrice, Barbara; three brothers Maynard, Marlin, Kenneth; daughter Janice Rae Hough.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday August 26, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. in the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren. A visitation will be held on Saturday August 26, 2023 from 10:00 A.M. until service time in the church.  The will be a meal and fellowship held in the church after the services.

Memorials to Mt. Morris Fire Foundation NFP and/or Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren. 

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