Verna Lea Orr-LaKosky

Verna Lea Orr-LaKosky, 89, was born July 13,1935 in Cooks, MI to Napoleon (Pokey) and Lila (Popour) DesJarden. She married Alfred Orr on February 16, 1952, in Cooks, where they built their home and raised their three children. After Alfred's passing in 1985, she remarried Richard LaKosky and they lived in Fairport until Richard's passing in 2011. She then moved back to Cooks, her most favorite place to be, on the old DesJarden homestead and near family. In 2020 she moved back to Fairport where she was close to her daughters and where she passed away peacefully with her family by her side.
Verna Lea wore many hats. She was a vibrant, strong, and active woman in the community, was a wonderful homemaker baking bread, canning, making her famous head cheese for the brothers and sisters. She was also the best cook/bartender at Cooks Bar and Macs Bar with twenty-two years of service. She enjoyed working at the Sturdy mink farm every year, she nurtured and cared for so many over the years. She loved being around people and giving of herself.
Verna was known as a practical joker. You never knew what her gift may consist of or what your cake is made of (an actual sponge she frosted and served as sponge cake) for a few. She was always smiling, laughing, singing, making her own songs up, telling the grandkids stories about the bears in the woods, and praying. Verna liked playing cards, especially cribbage with Pat, liked going to the casino, loved yard work and gardening.
Verna is survived by her daughters Cheryl (Patrick) Ranguette and Penny McKay, both of Fairport, MI, daughter-in-law, Amy (Roberts) Orr of Cooks, grandchildren Darrin & Carrie Ranguette, Tony Ranguette, Tera & Jon Hinzman, Leigh McKay, Jennifer & Rocky Ansell, Kale McKay and Dougy Orr, fifteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Verna is also survived by her sisters Karen Pilon of Isabella; Bonnie Elliott, and Shirley Shampine, both of Cooks, and Rita Sturdy of Gladstone; brothers, Jay and Marci DesJarden, Dean DesJarden, both of Cooks, and Allen DesJarden of Manistique. Also, sisters-in-law Phyllis DesJarden of MO, and Patti DesJarden of Cooks.
Verna was preceded in death by both husbands, Alfred Orr and Richard LaKosky, her infant son Alfred Zachery Orr, her son Douglas Alfred Orr. Also preceding her in death were her brothers Clifford, Elroy, Terry, and Gary DesJarden, sisters-in-law Sally, Jan, Carol, and Mary DesJarden and brothers-in-law William Pilon, Charles Elliott, and Tom Shampine. Son-in-law Randy McKay and grandson Randy John McKay.
A burial service for Verna Lea will take place at the New Garden Cemetery on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Joseph Herr officiating. A memorial service, a life celebration and luncheon will follow at the Cooks Township Hall. We welcome you to join us.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's or your favorite charity
Fausett Family Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
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Fausett Funeral Homes-MSTQ