LaVonne was born and lived half her life in the St. Louis, Missouri area. She later went on to spend portions of her life in San Antonio, Phoenix, and Southern California. Her parents were Robert and Dorothy Hook and she had three dear sisters Lorraine Davis, Maureen Rutherford, and Kathleen Mallory. Lorraine, of Silver Springs, Maryland is with us still.

LaVonne is the greatly loved mother of Laurie Meyer, Mary Pernot (Rory), John Meyer (Angel), and Carol Tripp (who preceded her to heaven in 2012.) LaVonne raised her children, largely by herself, working at the IGA grocery store in Berkeley, Missouri. She then went on to graduate with a BS in Business from Southeast Missouri State, and was named the Business Student of the Year at graduation.

LaVonne is the proud grandmother of Leslie Brewen (Bill), Joshua Pernot (Ariel), Dane Pernot, Stephanie Presnell (Mike), John Tripp (Gail), Jenise Fitch (Matt), William Meyer, Rachel McGee (Jordan), and Vlada Ruggerio (John).

She delighted in babies and once proclaimed during her granddaughter Leslie's wedding ceremony, "When are you going to bring us a baby?" And, so Leslie and Bill did, bringing us Aaron and then Aidan. Stephanie and Mike had already brought us Paige. Jenise and Matt brought us Logan and then Charlotte. Next came Oliver from Josh and Ariel, with Rachel and Jordan bringing forth Elizabeth. I'm sure LaVonne would call it a good start but would put in a request for more.

LaVonne loved her nieces and nephews. Brad Mallory, Blake Mallory, Laura Plummer, David Rutherford, Danny Rutherford, and Lorraine Duffield. Laura was the first baby of her generation in the family and was especially precious to all.

We have no doubt LaVonne will watch over us from a heavenly portal and will declare for us so that we may all some day see her again. Even as we grieve, we are delighted that she is with Jesus, and is reunited with all those loved ones who preceded her: her father, mother, sister Kathleen, daughter Carol, nephew Danny, Vicky Meyer Carroll, daughter in law, who died two years ago and LaVonne's sister Maureen, who went to heaven December 19, just three weeks prior to LaVonne.

We love you, sister, mama, grandmama, great-grandmama, and auntie. We always will. We hope heaven is everything you always wanted. And we hope, for your sake, there's square dancing, bread pudding, and Starbucks lattes there.

There will be a Celebration of Life party in Mesa, Arizona on March 4.