LaVonne Angeline Lathrop

1930-1988

 

LaVonne was born July 1, 1930, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, the second daughter born to Inis Esther Russell Lathrop and Earl Henry Lathrop. She also was raised on the farm her parents owned in Portland, and like Anabel, when she became a teenager, she stepped into helping her father with the dairy.

 

The residents within a 30-mile radius, were well acquainted with the young pretty blond girl who, in essence, learned to drive backwards as fast as she could forward. Bubbling in personality and will to fill in where her elder sister did, she acquired the pet name from her father as “Babe.’

 

In high school, LaVonne completed her general studies, but specialized in millinery and drama. She excelled in both. Her talents gave her the lead roles in every drama the school had, and her millinery work complimented her very unique and lovely ideas. As LaVonne grew, if was evident that she had a strong interest in the fashion world, and the welfare of children. She was to dedicate her career to both and become successful in her ventures.

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She married her high school sweetheart, Irvin Donald Kramer, on August 21, 1948, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. They lived in Portland, Oregon, most of their married years. In 1954, LaVonne initiated what was to become known in the State of Oregon as Kinder Kollege, a fully accredited program for preschoolers. She built her own school for four classrooms, a nursery which provided a registered nurse and doctor on call. She operated her school with great success until 1969. She became ill and went to Seattle, Washington where she was hospitalized. She had a mild heart attack. She and Irvin were divorced. She married a second time, Nicholas Teeny, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon on October 27, 1979. Together they owned and operated the Casual Village Fashion Stores in Oregon until her death.

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LaVonne and Irvin had two children: Edward Lathrop Kramer, born June 11, 1959 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, and Amelia LeAnn Kramer, born October 20, 1961 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. There were ten years between the two children, but Amelia was greatly adored by her brother and parents.

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LaVonne was an extremely talented individual, who could take the most decrepit item and turn it into something beautiful. Everything she touched became exquisite, or lovely to look at. She was well known for her decorative abilities, and was often called up to decorate for weddings and receptions. For over ten years, LaVonne was appointed to decorate her church (Hinson Memorial Baptist), for its Christmas Season. It was here that LaVonne, a born again Christian, served her Lord with her talents.

 

She was to aspire and become a successful business women, loved for her gentle, kind, understanding manner. Her life was snuffed out at the young age of 58, on December 13, 1988. Her funeral was held at her church, which ironically had been decorated by her the week before for the Christmas Season. Her epitaph; “She walked in Beauty” was the true dimension to living her life. She was gracious, as well as giving of herself, and left us with a legacy to try to equal. She is interred in the City View Cemetery in Salem, Marion County, Oregon near her parents.