Evelyn LaVon Foarde

The Lord called home a vibrant and beautiful soul on Friday, May 25, 2018 as Evelyn LaVon Foarde passed away with family at her side in her home in Austin, Texas, at age 91. Wherever she went, LaVon endeared herself to people of all ages and walks of life. Her great warmth, boundless capacity for caring and sharp wit made her "everyone's mom." She had an incredible zest for life and her enthusiasm for new adventures and people was infectious. As one of her granddaughters described her, "She was the life of the party and could charm the pants off anyone she met." She had a heart filled with enough love to make each of her nine children and eighteen grandchildren feel truly special. In addition to her husband John and her children and grandchildren, LaVon's other great love was music. She was a gifted keyboardist, and a much sought-after accompanist for religious ceremonies and community events, serving several Catholic churches as organist over the years. When she was not playing in public, LaVon could be found entertaining on her beloved Wurlitzer at home. She also wrote poetry and satire, and was talented at drawing and painting. LaVon, as she preferred to be called, was born on January 3, 1927 in Burlington, Iowa, to Charles Wilbur and Ferrell V. (Collins) Craver. She spent her young life in various small towns in Iowa, where her father was a school superintendent. After high school, LaVon moved to Des Moines, Iowa and enrolled as an undergraduate at Drake University. While seeking her teacher certification, LaVon worked on the circulation desk of the Des Moines Register & Tribune, occasionally substituting as a columnist. While in this role, she met John J. Foarde Jr., of Des Moines, and they were married in June of 1952. Over the following fourteen years, they moved several times in connection with his work, and had nine children. In 1966, John was transferred to Mexico City, Mexico, and LaVon, rather than being daunted at the prospect of moving to a foreign country with nine small children, enthusiastically followed. She immediately fell in love with the Mexican culture and people. Once her youngest children reached school age, LaVon began teaching, a vocation that she dearly loved and for which she was well suited. In 1978, LaVon and her family returned to the U.S. and set up the family homestead in McAllen, Texas. Not long after, LaVon resumed teaching at a local Parochial school. A life-long learner, she returned to college after her children were grown and received her B.A. in 1990 at the age of 63. In 1995, she and John moved to San Antonio, Texas and later to Austin Texas. LaVon is survived by her nine children: John J. Foarde III, Mary, Thomas, Patrick, Katherine, Timothy, Michael, Elizabeth and Daniel; plus 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. LaVon will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown,Texas.