Lavawn Viva Rowson

Lavawn was born January 22, 1928, the second daughter of Reuben and Eva (Callaham) Johnson, at their farm south of Brady, Nebraska.

She begged her mom to let her go to school with her older sister, Eva finally relented and Lavawn graduated in 1944 at age 16 from high school, Nebraska School of Agriculture-Curtis. She taught school for two years in one-room country schools, many of her students were her cousins, living above the general store in Ingham, Nebraska. While walking home from teaching one day, she met a young sailor home from WWII, six months later she married that sailor, Charles Rowson, on June 16, 1946. He preceded her in death on December 12, 2012.

She was the ranch cook for ten years on Rosedale Ranch near North Platte, NE, before the family moved to Fulton, Missouri. There she worked as clerk/bookkeeper at the Travelier Motel & Restaurant and Alexander Hardware, accounts payable at H.K. Porter. Between 1972-79, when she and Charlie returned to the ranch, she was the bookkeeper for the ranch, then returned to Fulton where she was Production-Sales Coordinator for A.P. Green Refractories-Fulton until retiring in 1990.

A devoted wife and loving mother/grandmother she was well-known for her fried chicken, homemade bread, and chocolate chip cookies.

Lavawn was a member of First Christian Church, Fulton, where she served as a Deacon and Elder. Perhaps best known there, however, for the hundreds of pints of her sweet pickles, Stickles, that she donated each year for the Church fundraiser. She was a member and Past Noble Grand of Queen Council Rebekah Lodge No. 308.

She is survived by one daughter Donna (Norm) Rainey of Surprise, Arizona, one son Mike (Becky) Rowson of Columbia; four grandchildren Chris (Debbie) Rainey of La Center, Washington, Mark (Jordan) Rainey of Tualatin, Oregon, Scott (Amber) Rowson of Columbia, Amy (Ryan) Hildebrand of Ashland, Missouri; six great-grandchildren Jordan Rainey, Logan Rainey, Ryland Rainey, Beckett Rowson, Ayla Rowson, Sydney Hildebrand, and three great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to Charlie, Lavawn was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters Lorene Hoaglund, Darlene Brittenham, and Shirley Brittenham.

She will be cremated and buried next to Charlie in Callaway Memorial Gardens at a later date in a private family graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Christian Church, Fulton, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251.