Laverta W. Ackerman

Laverta W. Ackerman, age 82, of Lawrence, Kansas, formerly of Savonburg, Kansas, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2012, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born on June 30, 1929, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the daughter of Gullis Despain and Lennie Wyse Despain Hayes. She graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, California. Laverta was united in marriage to Bob Ackerman on March 7, 1950, in Richmond, California, and began her life as a devoted military wife, mother, and volunteer, moving her family around the globe serving in many capacities including Wives Club President, Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, PTA President, Room Mother, Red Cross Volunteer, Chaplain's Aid, Thrift Shop Volunteer and Youth Center Volunteer before retiring with Bob to Savonburg, Kansas in 1973. He preceded her in death on January 3, 1995. She was a clerk at the U.S. Post Office in Savonburg for many years. Laverta also worked for the Kunkel Funeral Home and later for the Feuerborn Funeral Home in Moran. Laverta was an active member in many civic, fraternal and social organizations including, Order of the Eastern Star: Sunflower Chapter 147, Chanute, Kansas; Daughters of the Nile, Azrim Temple No. 81, Pittsburg, Kansas; and Red Hats Society. Laverta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Jack Hayes; a daughter-in-law, Mary Ackerman; a sister-in-law, Joan Foote, brother-in-law, Bill Foote, and nephew, Wayne Foote. She is survived by her son Ronald Ackerman and wife Jackie of Vian, Oklahoma, daughter Marcia Ackerman Devlin and husband Dan of Lawrence, Kansas, three grandchildren Sarah Ackerman-Hale and husband Andy of Spring Hill, Kansas, Oliver Devlin and Laura Devlin of Lawrence, Kansas, one great-granddaughter Mary Kate Hale of Spring Hill, Kansas, two sisters-in-law Carol White and husband Wendill of Pinole, California, and Mary Hayes of Omaha, Nebraska; four nephews and one niece: Dennis Foote, Marty Foote, John Hayes, David Hayes, Nicole Wilbur and four grand-nieces and nephews Jenny Hayes Maytum, Stevie Hayes, Matthew Wilbur and Jessica Wilbur. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Moran. Interment will follow in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Savonburg, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00 PM, Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or to The Diabetes Association or to Eastern Star, Sunflower Chapter 147 and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 344 N. Cedar, Moran, Kansas 66755.