LaVerne was born January 13, 1936 in Cleveland, OH to Kenneth Talcott and Alberta Barnes Talcott. Called Levi (pronounced Leevie) by per parents and four siblings, the family resided in Bedford, OH. At age 12, LaVerne was hospitalized for several months with rheumatic fever. This damaged her heart and doctors predicted she wouldn’t live past age 30.
LaVerne was a teenage mother and had six children by the age of 25. With her sixth child, the natal nurse quipped with her, “At this rate, dear, you will have 11 children at age 30”. That must have frightened her because that’s when she stopped.
LaVerne was a “Navy wife” to husband, Robert Fullerton. For nine years, they were stationed at NAS Grosse Ile, MI, on an island in the Detroit River. Like many women of the time, LaVerne was a stay-at-home mom. In 1964, the family was transferred to NAS Glenview, IL.
It was in Illinois that LaVerne, with a little guts and some luck, literally walked to a company called PowerTool and was able to convince them she could do their billing. So at age 29, she got her first job, followed by her first driver’s license and her first car. The next year, with her new-found confidence, she convinced Sears and Revlon that she could learn to wear, apply and sell makeup.
In 1968, the family was transferred to NAS Sand Point, Seattle, WA. LaVerne continued to work for Revlon, but now at the Navy Exchanges at NAS Sand Point and NAS Whidbey, where Robert was transferred to in 1970. They divorced in 1974. LaVerne started working at Sears in the home decorating department selling custom draperies and blinds.
Mutual friends introduced LaVerne to Wally Green. Her first impression of him was, “I don’t like the mustache”, and his was, “I don’t need to date a woman with six kids”. But he ordered drapes and the rest is history. They were married in 1977 and bought a bigger house in Edmonds to accommodate the extended family. They equipped the house with all things 1980 - waterbed, hot tub, sunroom, and well-stocked Tiki bar. Everyone knew that each and every holiday and birthday would be celebrated with Granny Green and Wally at their home. Friends and family have often said, “Granny always made me feel welcomed and special”.
LaVerne loved to travel and have fun with Wally. They frequently took trips to Reno, Hawaii, and to Ilwaco for salmon fishing. For each birthday, Wally took LaVerne to the Empress Hotel in Victoria. They retired early, sold their upholstery shop in Ballard, bought a 5th wheel to travel the country; returning to Seattle for the summers. In 1998, they settled down in Las Vegas. It had more sunshine, plus video poker. Again she was hosting a steady stream of family and friends. LaVerne had her sequined fanny pack stuffed with coupons for anything you might imagine. She loved to play tour guide and show off the Las Vegas she loved. LaVerne claimed, “I’m not a gambler, I’m a player!”, so son-in-law, Ralph, remembers being corrected more than once.
Everyone knows LaVerne loved tigers. Many items in her collection, decorating her Las Vegas home, were given to her by friends and family.
LaVerne “Granny” Green will be missed. She chose the name “Granny”. It was humorous because she became a grandmother so very young. She leaves behind her children, Debra Klein, Michael (Hye) Ryhter, Robert (Cathy) Fullerton, Donna (Ralph) Lease, and Amy Brashears; stepchildren Terry, Debra, and Mark Green; 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, as well as her siblings Kenneth Talcott, Martha Payne, Lillian Beauchamp, and Charles Talcott.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Alberta Talcott, her husband, Wallace “Wally” Green, son, Edward Mansfield Fullerton II, and granddaughter, Mackenzie Fullerton.
Family and friends, please join us for a Celebration of LaVerne’s Life on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, Evergreen Funeral Home, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203, 1:00 pm
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