Lavonne Symonds

LaVonne Symonds, the daughter of Dellmond Eldy and Iva Belle (Reed) Hadley was born April 6, 1920, at her parent’s home in rural Adair County. LaVonne entered eternal rest on January 25, 2016, at Corning Specialty Care, Corning, Iowa, at the age of ninety-five years, nine months, and nineteen days.
Her family moved to Adams County in 1924 when she was four years old. She graduated from Corning High School with the class of 1937. As a young thirteen year old attending school she resided at the Corning City Jail. In exchange for her room and board she would make meals for the inmates as well as iron and starch as many as 15 white shirts. Upon graduation LaVonne spent the next 15 years teaching in rural schools in Adams and Cass Counties.
LaVonne married Robert M. Symonds on August 1, 1945, in Des Moines, IA. They would spend 49 years together mostly in Adams and Cass Counties before moving to Corning in 1982. After teaching, LaVonne would start a cake decorating business which thrived for 40 years. She baked and decorated wedding and graduation cakes. She retired in 2001.
LaVonne enjoyed gardening, playing cards, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and cooking. She was very well known for her noodles as well as for her baking talents. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the United Methodist Women, and the Dewey Neighborhood Club. She loved to watch sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Left to cherish LaVonne’s memory is her daughter: Linda (Larry) Pettit, Fairfield, IA; son: Butch (Sheila) Symonds, Massena, IA; daughter: Bev Embree, Des Moines, IA; son: Curt (Julie) Symonds, Massena, IA; 11 grandchildren: Shana (Chris) Spieker; Rob (Niki) Pettit; Jim (Michele) Pettit; Mark Pettit; Ryan (Eva) Jensen; Jessica (David) McClaskey; Stefany (fiancé Travis Mewhirter) Erickson; Libby Embree; Walker Embree; Laura (Tristan) Hapes; Luke ( Emily) Symonds; 16 great-grandchildren; sister: Wilma Bunting; sister-in-law: Lois Carlisle, Griswold, IA; brother-in-law: Bill (Karen) Symonds, Clear Lake, IA; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Preceding LaVonne in death were her parents; husband: Robert; brother: Keith Hadley; sister-in-law: Pauline Hadley; brother-in-law: Kenneth Bunting; nephews: Ronald Bunting and Todd Stamp.