LaVerne M. Shelley

LaVerne was born on March 31, 1929, on the family farm outside Vienna, MO, to Clarice and Richard James, Sr., as the youngest of four children. She grew up in a very loving family and spent time with many cousins and friends, which she valued throughout her life. LaVerne graduated from Vienna High School as salutatorian and senior class secretary. Following high school, LaVerne attended a cosmetology school in Springfield, MO, and later business school in St. Louis, MO.

On a church bus trip with Third Baptist Church to Ridgecrest, North Carolina, LaVerne met the love of her life, Dean Shelley. They were married at Third Baptist before Dean left for Korea. After Dean returned home, they moved to Columbia, Missouri, so that he could attend the University of Missouri. LaVerne worked for the College of Human and Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri. With her knowledge and experience, she became the fiscal officer, working with the Dean of the College, and later retired after 40 years of service.

Throughout LaVerne’s life, she continually held her faith in God and her love for her family as the most important. One of the ways she continually showed her love for family and friends was by hosting and cooking throughout her years. Additionally, LaVerne and Dean loved to travel and were fortunate to visit many memorable places, including Italy and Alaska.

LaVerne is survived by two daughters, Debbie Shelley-Milam (Dale), of Columbia, MO and Donna Kell (Joe), Kansas City, MO; two granddaughters, Katie Kimble (Jacob), St. Joseph, MO, and Kelsey Whitlow (Austin), Platte City, MO; and six great-grandchildren, Connor, Collins, and Reid Kimble, and William, Ainsley, and Frances Whitlow. LaVerne was a very caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarice and Richard, sister, Louise Albertson, and two brothers, Norman and Richard James.

Donations to the Crossing Church, 3615 Southland Dr, Columbia, MO 65201, This is the last church that LaVerne and Dean attended together, or to the College of the Ozarks, 1 Opportunity Ave, Point Lookout, MO 65726, where her husband Dean helped develop the Dairy program.

A Celebration of Life for LaVerne Shelley will be held at Memorial Funeral Home at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 26, in Columbia, MO, with a visitation at 10:00 a.m.