LaVerne Lander

Pauline Laverne Lander was born on August 24, 1923 in Kerreville, MO in Cape Giradeau County, the daughter of Paul Frederick and Sabina Doretta (Haupt) Willer. She moved with her family at age 4 to Cape Girardeau, where she completed high school and began her studies at Southeast Missouri State and then Nursing School in St. Louis, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She met Robert “Doc” Lander, and they were married on August 11, 1946 in St. Louis, MO. Together they moved to Tahlequah, OK, where her husband taught and coached at NSU, and raised a family of two sons and one daughter, Tom, Ron and Kathy, and two foster children, Pam Rousey and Pat Rousey. LaVerne was a dedicated nurse, caring for the patients in the Emergency Room, even long after her retirement. The caring and compassionate nature she gave to everyone she met, as well as her smile that made you feel you were with a friend. People came to know and trust LaVerne, knowing she was looking out for them when they needed her most. She maintained this career until age 73 six days a week. When she wasn’t working, she was at home caring for her family and working in her flower beds. When the weather turned colder, she worked on the family genealogy, tying all the loose family threads together. She loved time spent with her children and grandchildren, just enjoying a meal and a little conversation. Robert passed in 1996, and LaVerne kept busy with her many projects. A Christian by faith, LaVerne passed form this life on September 24th, 2021 at her home. She was 98 years old and will be fondly missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mother, Father, and husband Robert.

Her memory is cherished by her three children, Tom lander, Ron Lander, both of Tahlequah, OK and Kathy Lander-Lawson of Coweta, OK, Pam Rousey Walsh of Tulsa, OK, and Pat Rousey Wheeler of Norman, OK. LaVerne will live on in her grandchildren, Shawn Lander, Kari Feathergill, Seth Lander, Tyler Lander, Adam Lander, Cory Lander, Cody Lander, Casey Lander, Mike Wheeler and Jimmy Wheeler, as well as many cousins, friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Graveside services for Pauline LaVerne (Willer) Lander will be held on Friday, October 1st, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Tahlequah City Cemetery Pavilion with Reverend Tammy Schmidt officiating. Her family will have a visitation prior to services on October 1, 2021 from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.