Obituary for LaVonne Wilson
LaVonne Lowry Wilson
July 31, 1937 – March 17, 2023
LaVonne Lowry Wilson was born July 31st, 1937, in Jamestown North Dakota. She moved to Seattle and later graduated from Lincoln High School. In 1961, she met Robert (Bob) Wilson, the love of her life, through a mutual friend while on a ski trip to Sun Valley, ID. They were married on January 17th, 1962 in Lakewood Washington. They lived in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington before they moved, with their two daughters, to Dallas, Oregon in 1971.
Upon moving to Dallas, LaVonne enjoyed working as a bookkeeper in several local businesses until she found her true passion of working for the Dallas School District, which spanned a career of 30+ years. Her first job was working as a teacher’s aide at Whitworth Elementary. She loved to interact with the students, especially on the playground. It wasn’t long before she was recognized and offered a position in the school district’s business office followed by an advancement to the superintendent’s office as administrative assistant. Soon thereafter, she was promoted to the position of business manager and deputy clerk where she managed multi-million-dollar budgets, several bonds, and a host of funding and spending issues for the most important lifelong cause to her: education.
Along with her passion for education, she was a champion for supporting people and causes in her community. Among her greatest accomplishments was being elected to the Dallas City Council where she tirelessly served the people of Dallas for 32 years as well as served on the Dallas Retirement Village Board as a past president and member. The exhaustive list of charitable and civic organizations LaVonne had dedicated her time and devotion to, all started 40 years ago when she was a founding member of the Dallas Community Foundation and Dallas Arts Association. She then served on the Dallas Gala, Dallas Park Board, Dallas KID’s Inc. Board, Dallas Economic Development Commission, Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee, Dallas Area Visitors Center Board, Chemeketa College Budget Committee, Dallas Area Seniors Site Advisory Committee, and Dallas School District Finance Committee. She was quoted as saying, “I think the greatest gift that anyone can give in their life is service to others, just knowing that you made a difference in small ways…will have a reward that is everlasting.”
She has truly shown how the power of one can make an indelible difference in the world. As such the City of Dallas recognized her accomplishments. In 1976, LaVonne was honored with the First Citizen Woman of the Year Award and in 2013, she received the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the city for 40+ years of service.
LaVonne was a fiercely loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She attended countless sporting events and school performances. LaVonne had the gift of hospitality. She made any gathering special with her personal touches and you always felt welcomed and loved. She never missed a holiday or birthday and was revered as being extremely generous and thoughtful with her gifts and tender cards. LaVonne loved to spend time with family and friends. A favorite gathering, for over 40 years, was the annual 4th of July vacation to Mercer Lake. Bob and LaVonne loved to travel! They traveled to Europe, the Panama Canal and around the United States. They loved going on cruises and took several with their friends.
LaVonne had an incredible ability of balancing what was most important to her in life…faith, family, friends, career and service. Her life was immensely impactful and her presence will continue to ripple through the community and her family for years to come. She will be missed!
LaVonne was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bob Wilson; mother Winona Skeel; her brother Leland Wheeler and son-in-law Brian Hackney. Survivors include her daughters Julie Hackney and Teri Friesen (Tony); her 4 grandchildren Ali (Clint), Megan, Ty and Paige, and 2 great-grandchildren Lola and Boone.
In loving memory, please join us in honoring the life of LaVonne Wilson on Saturday, May 13th at 1:00PM at the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Funeral arrangements will be made by The Bollman Funeral Home. In remembrance of LaVonne’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Dallas Community Foundation. A special thank you to Bristol Hospice - Oregon for their care and support.
July 31, 1937 – March 17, 2023
LaVonne Lowry Wilson was born July 31st, 1937, in Jamestown North Dakota. She moved to Seattle and later graduated from Lincoln High School. In 1961, she met Robert (Bob) Wilson, the love of her life, through a mutual friend while on a ski trip to Sun Valley, ID. They were married on January 17th, 1962 in Lakewood Washington. They lived in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington before they moved, with their two daughters, to Dallas, Oregon in 1971.
Upon moving to Dallas, LaVonne enjoyed working as a bookkeeper in several local businesses until she found her true passion of working for the Dallas School District, which spanned a career of 30+ years. Her first job was working as a teacher’s aide at Whitworth Elementary. She loved to interact with the students, especially on the playground. It wasn’t long before she was recognized and offered a position in the school district’s business office followed by an advancement to the superintendent’s office as administrative assistant. Soon thereafter, she was promoted to the position of business manager and deputy clerk where she managed multi-million-dollar budgets, several bonds, and a host of funding and spending issues for the most important lifelong cause to her: education.
Along with her passion for education, she was a champion for supporting people and causes in her community. Among her greatest accomplishments was being elected to the Dallas City Council where she tirelessly served the people of Dallas for 32 years as well as served on the Dallas Retirement Village Board as a past president and member. The exhaustive list of charitable and civic organizations LaVonne had dedicated her time and devotion to, all started 40 years ago when she was a founding member of the Dallas Community Foundation and Dallas Arts Association. She then served on the Dallas Gala, Dallas Park Board, Dallas KID’s Inc. Board, Dallas Economic Development Commission, Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee, Dallas Area Visitors Center Board, Chemeketa College Budget Committee, Dallas Area Seniors Site Advisory Committee, and Dallas School District Finance Committee. She was quoted as saying, “I think the greatest gift that anyone can give in their life is service to others, just knowing that you made a difference in small ways…will have a reward that is everlasting.”
She has truly shown how the power of one can make an indelible difference in the world. As such the City of Dallas recognized her accomplishments. In 1976, LaVonne was honored with the First Citizen Woman of the Year Award and in 2013, she received the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the city for 40+ years of service.
LaVonne was a fiercely loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She attended countless sporting events and school performances. LaVonne had the gift of hospitality. She made any gathering special with her personal touches and you always felt welcomed and loved. She never missed a holiday or birthday and was revered as being extremely generous and thoughtful with her gifts and tender cards. LaVonne loved to spend time with family and friends. A favorite gathering, for over 40 years, was the annual 4th of July vacation to Mercer Lake. Bob and LaVonne loved to travel! They traveled to Europe, the Panama Canal and around the United States. They loved going on cruises and took several with their friends.
LaVonne had an incredible ability of balancing what was most important to her in life…faith, family, friends, career and service. Her life was immensely impactful and her presence will continue to ripple through the community and her family for years to come. She will be missed!
LaVonne was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bob Wilson; mother Winona Skeel; her brother Leland Wheeler and son-in-law Brian Hackney. Survivors include her daughters Julie Hackney and Teri Friesen (Tony); her 4 grandchildren Ali (Clint), Megan, Ty and Paige, and 2 great-grandchildren Lola and Boone.
In loving memory, please join us in honoring the life of LaVonne Wilson on Saturday, May 13th at 1:00PM at the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Funeral arrangements will be made by The Bollman Funeral Home. In remembrance of LaVonne’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Dallas Community Foundation. A special thank you to Bristol Hospice - Oregon for their care and support.