Melba LaVerne Howison

LaVerne was born on November 15, 1933 to Collie and Clara Hackney in Fruitport, Michigan. The family moved to Lansing where, in 1945, LaVerne met her future husband, Lawrence, in homeroom class at Pattengill Junior High School. They became best friends and began attending church, where they learned that they could make beautiful harmonies together. Lawrence and LaVerne were married in 1953 and started their family in 1954. Sharing their love of the Lord Jesus in song became an integral part of their life together. They were blessed with 4 children who joined their parents, worshipping God in song, spending many evenings around the piano working on music that they would share in churches throughout the mid-Michigan area.

While her children were young, LaVerne was privileged to be a stay-at-home mom while also supporting her husband’s business, Howison Electric, as secretary and bookkeeper. She later became office manager, and then co-owner of Ingram Court Reporting Service until her retirement in 1994. They made their retirement home in Ludington and spent the next 18 years in the glorious bliss of eating ice cream cones, watching the Badger come in, fishing and enjoying the dunes with their children and grandchildren, or just by themselves.

They returned to Lansing in 2018 for health reasons, and she passed peacefully at home with her husband by her side.

LaVerne was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, James, Lloyd, and Walter Hackney; her sister, Vesta Pauline Ryal; grandson, Lawrence Howison III; and great-grandson, Michael Lawrence Dam. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Lawrence LeRoy Howison, Sr.; children, Ann L. (John) Lynch, of Dewitt, Lawrence L. (Pam) Howison Jr. of Lake City, Rebecca L. (Lonnie) Hoyt of Perry, and Belinda L. (Michael) Brandshaw of Damascus, MD. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Damion (Kristen) Lynch, Heather (Paul) Thomson, Georgia (Matt) Schmitz, Alex (Jenny) Howison, Barry (Leslie) Maag, Lindsey (Justin) Dam, Nick (Tasha) Howison, Samantha Nelson (Justin Bowler), Tyge (Jessica) Nelson, Jr., Ian Nelson, Zach (Miranda) Bradshaw, Jacob Bradshaw, Michael Bradshaw, Clare Bradshaw; 19 great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews.

We are rejoicing knowing that she is in the arms of her Lord and Savior. We will all miss her terribly but know she is free from pain and her memory has been restored. Until we meet again, we love you Mom!

The family would like to thank Sparrow Home Hospice for the wonderful care provided to our mom.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grlansing.com for the Howison family.