LaVern M. Johnson

LaVern was born on July 23, 1927 in Denver, CO to Bernie LaVern and Irene Marie (Emmerling) McConnell. The family has had a presence in Lyons since 1862 when John Reese homesteaded 80 acres just east of town. LaVern graduated from Lyons High School in 1945 as Valedictorian from a class of five. After graduation she attended Barnes Business College.

On April 23, 1950 she married Floyd LaVerne Johnson and they were together until his passing in 1997. LaVern was a tax practitioner for 40 years and a landlord which she continued into her retirement.

LaVern was very involved in the Lyons community where she attended the Lyons Methodist Church (Lyons Community Church) where she taught Sunday School for 35 years; belonged to the PTO and Oddfellows and Rebeccas for years; served on the Lyons Town Board for 13 years; was a Founder and then Director of the Lyons Redstone Museum for over 40 years; was on the Lyons Parks and Recreation Committee for 56 years, was a key figure in the fight to stop Coffintop Dam from being built above Lyons; fought against housing being built on a hazardous waste dump at Dowe Flats; has been a leader in the fight to keep the schools in Lyons since 1948; helped save Meadow Park from a developer who wanted to build 75 townhomes on it; and was a key figure in forming the Lyons Historical Society in 1973 that later saved the old Depot and the 1881 Schoolhouse from the “wrecker’s ball”. The depot is now town offices and the school house is now the Lyons Redstone Museum. Finally, she wrote her weekly “About Town” column in the Lyons Recorder for 38 years. She wrote her last column on April 7th. She received many accolades over her lifetime and led one crusade after another for her beloved town of Lyons.

In their free time, Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne enjoyed square dancing. They started the Red Rock Ramblers square dance club in 1958. The Red Rock Ramblers, the Square Dusters and the Foot & Fiddle square dance clubs will partner together to have 3 more dances this summer to honor Mrs. LaVern and all she has meant to the square-dancing community in Colorado.

Mrs. LaVern was preceded in death by her husband Floyd LaVerne; her parents; her brother Herbert Reese McConnell; her sisters Berene Rose Sullivan and Violet Ann Betz.

She is survived by her sons Gerald LaVerne Johnson and Ronald Wayne Johnson (wife Cindy Weinel); her grandchildren Trevor, Audrey and Randall Johnson; her siblings Sharon Dee McConnell and Byron Ray (Sharon) McConnell; her nieces Rosamond Sullivan, Terri Weir, Laura Jueschke, Kelly Duff, Jackie Guntle, Barbara Gill, Deb Waggoner, and LeAnn Salazar; and her nephews Floyd Sullivan, Tracy McConnell and Scott Leiding.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-5:00pm Wednesday May 25, 2022 at Lyons Elementary School 338 High St, Lyons, CO 80540, followed by a Funeral service at 6:00pm at LaVern M. Johnson Park 600 Park Dr, Lyons, CO 80540. A private burial will take place at Lyons Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Lyons Historical Society PO Box 9, Lyons, CO 80540. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.

Our Mother has once again joined hands with the Love of her life. After being apart for more than 23 years, Mr. & Mrs. LaVerne are happily square dancing together again for the rest of eternity!

- LaVern’s Sons