Martha "LaVonne" Grant

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Martha "LaVonne" Grant, 81, of Springfield, Mo., passed away Jan. 26, 2013, at Maplewood Alzheimer's Care Unit in Springfield.

She was born May 14, 1931, in Diamond Spring, Clinton County, Ill., the daughter of Walter and Elizabeth (Lucas) Leicht.

On Jan. 10, 1952, she was united in marriage to Robert E. Grant (CMSGT retired) in Lincoln, Neb. LaVonne shared nearly 50 years of marriage with Bob along with a love for their children and grandchildren, craft shows and travel. Her friends and family knew her for the China painting and beautiful birdhouses she would decorate and sell at craft shows. In her pre-marriage days LaVonne and her sisters Mary and Lois sang gospel music on the radio.

LaVonne is survived by her children, Jillian Grant, Springfield, Mo., Lyndall Grant, San Mateo, Calif., Ronald Grant and wife, Lynnette, of Nevada, Mo., and Gina Curtis and husband, Keith, Niceville, Fla.; five grandchildren, Carrie Grant, Willard, Mo., Leevon Grant and wife, Jessie, Nixa, Mo., Todd Brannon, Colorado Springs, Colo., Julia Grant, Portland, Ore., and Rebecca Weyandt, Niceville, Fla.; five great-grandchildren; her sister, Lois (Noni) Leicht Selner and husband, Harold, Omaha, Neb.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her son, Chod Douglas Grant; her sister, Mary Ellen Linzmeyer; her parents, Walter and Elizabeth Leicht; and her granddaughter, Jessica Marie Grant.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., today, Jan. 29, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Mo., with Chaplain Elizabeth Tinlin officiating. Pallbearers will be Ron Grant, Lyndall Grant, Leevon Grant, Todd Brannon, Greg Rapsilber, and Chad Breshears. Honorary pallbearers will be Hal Selner, Keith Curtis, and David Linzmeyer.

Interment will follow at Knob Noster Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association and may be left at Sweeney-Philips & Holdren Funeral Home, 617 N. Maguire Street, Warrensburg, Mo.