Lavonne Marie (Zimmerman) Farney, 91, died May 26, 2023, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, South Hutchinson, KS. She was born January 17, 1932, the daughter of John A. and Edna Edith (Mosier) Zimmerman, in Reno County near Plevna, KS.
Lavonne graduated from Nickerson High School in 1949, and in 1953, she received a Bachelor’s degree from Sterling College. After graduation, she taught school in Dighton, KS, Flanagan, IL, Nickerson High School, and retired after teaching in the Hutchinson public schools.
She was a member of Sterling Evangelical Bible Church, Christian Educators Association, Retired Teachers of Reno County, and Questers.
On August 14, 1955, Lavonne married Bob Farney. They lived on a farm southwest of Sterling, KS, where they worked the land together and served in the community and church. They spent four years (1961-1965) at Salem Children’s Home near Flanagan, IL, with their children, Jack, Tyler, and Gayle, helping care for needy children before returning back to their farm.
Lavonne is survived by: her husband, Robert ‘Bob’ Farney of South Hutchinson, KS; sister, Greta Zimmerman of South Hutchinson, KS; children, Jack (Kay) Farney of Sterling, KS, and Gayle (Rick) Fehr of Omaha, NE; daughter-in-law, Keva Farney of North Newton, KS; grandchildren, Garet (Jaymelynn) Farney of Sterling, KS, Logan (Megan) Farney of Sterling, KS, Chelsi (Zack) Marshall of Eureka, KS, Wyatt (Laurel) Farney of Elbing, KS, Yance (Elaine) Farney of Kechi, KS, Rob (Abby) Fehr of Omaha, NE, and Nate (Laura) Fehr of Bentonville, AR; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; brothers, Wendell Zimmerman and Don Zimmerman; sister, Ruth Eagleson; son, Tyler Farney; and granddaughter, Marshay.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2023, at Sterling Evangelical Bible Church, 3017 N. Sterling Road, Sterling, KS, with Pastor Phil Carroll officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, KS. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1, 2023, with the family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sterling Evangelical Bible Church or Mennonite Friendship Communities, in care of, Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.