She was born in 1947 and was a daughter of the late Eugene Thomason, a renowned artist of western North Carolina, and his wife, Elizabeth Thomason.
Lavinia was a graduate of Nebo High School and attended Western Carolina College.
Her working career began in the 1960's with the FBI in Washington, DC. She later spent several years at the law firm of Hogan and Hartson.
She met her soon to be husband, James Sauter, in Maryland where they started a family together. Lavinia eventually relocated back to North Carolina with her family where she naturally followed in the artistic footsteps of her father as an artist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation.
The family moved to Kansas in the 1980's where she taught toll painting from home for several years, and also performed an extensive renovation of the Assumption Chapel at St. Mary’s. The renovations included the main altar and numerous reliquaries.
After many years as an artist and homemaker, Lavinia began working for Sam's Club as a food demonstrator, then later as a personal greeter.
Her beloved husband, James, passed away in 2000. Several years after that, she relocated to the Midlands of South Carolina where she continued working for Sam's Club until she retired.
Survivors include her two sons, Eugene Sauter and Michael Sauter, a sister, Jean Turner, a half-sister, Virginia McMahon, many nieces and nephews, and her beloved cats.
Friends may visit from 10 to 11 am Tuesday, November 24th, 2020 at Wilson Funeral & Cremation Service, 5301 Albemarle Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina, 28212. Following the visitation, a funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am.
Committal services and burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband, James.
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