01/26/12 - NNHS Newsletter -
Lavern Simmers Schrader Harty

Lelah Lavern Simmers Schrader Harty
(05 Aug 1928 - 24 Jan 2012)

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Lelah Lavern Schrader Harty, 83, of Advance passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at her home.

She was born Aug. 5, 1928, at Zalma, Mo., daughter of Vernie Simmers and Ella Grace Limbaugh. Lavern and August Zelophehad ("Sonny") Schrader were married June 2, 1948, in Piggott, Ark. He preceded her in death June 11, 1977. She married Paul Hampton Harty, Sr. on Dec. 10, 1977, at Bloomfield, Mo. He preceded her in death Nov. 18, 1998.

Lavern retired as a technician at Superior Electric. She was a member of Zalma General Baptist Church.

Survivors include four sons, Randy (Linda) Schrader of Advance, Mike (Vickie) Schrader of Zalma, Stan (Angela) Schrader of Puxico, Mo., and Jeff (Lissa) Schrader of Sturdivant, Mo.; three stepsons, Paul (Carol) Harty Jr. of Fayetteville, N.C., Gordon (Pam) Harty of St. Peters, Mo., and Gary (Kathleen) Harty of Easton, Pa.; five stepdaughters, Eileen (Gary) Lafary of Bushnell, Ill., Phyllis McGuire of Winchester, Ind., Paulette (Lyle) Johnston of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Mary (Ron) Holdiness of Jackson and Ramona Harty of Cape Girardeau; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; 28 stepgrandchildren; 34 great-stepgrandchildren; two great-great-stepgrandchildren; and a sister, Geraldine Evans of Bloomfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; a daughter, Valerie Mayberry; a son, David Schrader; a stepson, Jack Harty; a brother, Fred Simmers; a daughter-in-law, Rose Schrader, and a stepson-in-law, Olin McGuire.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Keith Price officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park.

Published in the Southeast Missourian on January 26, 2012.
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   Thank you, Gary. We're all so grateful that you and Kathleen were able to visit with her so recently. Again, my deepest sympathies to you at this time.

   Thank you so very much, Joe!  Paul and I both really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

The family grapevine is not working well! We had no idea that     Jack had died! Sorry for your losses!

   YIKES! I'm so sorry, Kay!  We were so numb last year when that happened I don't think any of us knew what we were doing, but it's unconscionable that y'all had not heard sometime since then!  We'll try to do better.  Thank you for writing.  

   Thank you so much for your kind words, Wayne!  While Lavern didn't raise Paul, she's been a close member of our family since 1977, and we both feel that loss.  

From Paul's Distant Cousin, Patricia of CA to       My Husband, Paul Harty (Bardolph HS, IL - '61) of NC- 01/29/13, 1:47 AM - "Sorry for your losses":

Thanks, Patricia.  I agree with you and I am glad that you got to see       Carol's (Buckley Harty - '65 - of NC) tribute to      Lavern.  She was a good woman who definitely believed in Heavenly Father.  My brother     Jack died on the 1st of January of last year.  Both died of cancer, and it was hard to understand why they had to die that way, as they were both very good people and lived good lives while serving others.  But in the final analysis, they lived good lives even while dying in that they never questioned nor lost their faith. That is a testimony of how serious they were about their belief in life hereafter.

   Thank you, Patricia - and Paul.  

   Thank you so much, Linda May! I have been struggling with her loss far more than I expected. Her swift passing was clearly a blessing, as from all reports, heavy sedation was obviously not sufficient to relieve her pain entirely - and no one deserves that, and certainly not Lavern. Yet I found myself sinking into an unexpected mourning from which I did not seem to be able to extricate myself. I was really worrying about how I would be able to disguise it today and go on as though nothing were weighing so heavily on my heart. This afternoon when I walked into church, that cloud of doom was lifted and replaced with a feeling of joy, for which I was most grateful. As you know, I lead the congregational singing. After the service, several people stopped me to thank me for my smiling face and happy spirit as we sang. God does indeed move in mysterious ways!

   See, that's the interesting thing; despite my efforts - which I'm sure I am somehow blocking myself - I have never been able to master the art of relinquishing my troubles.  I usually even forget to ask.  I didn't ask this time either.  I simply crossed the threshold into the chapel, and felt them lift right off my shoulders, and I knew He did it because He knows me so well and loves me anyway.

   Thanks again, Linda May - I love you, too! 

... I found out about       Lavern the day before Zone Conference.  At first I was overcome with emotion and to be honest, if I start thinking about it I'll begin to cry again.  I just feel so bad that I never had a religious discussion with her - I didn't hear her testimony of the Savior and she didn't hear mine.  I still feel that way, but I'm glad that she is not suffering now.  There is a scripture in Revelation... I can't remember the reference, sorry.  It basically states that God will wipe away the tears from their faces - referring to those who have passed on and are now in His presence.  I know that He is there to comfort her and that she is being taught the Gospel by loved ones and that she is no more in pain. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

- Revelation 21:4

The other scripture reference that I want to refer y'all to is in D&C 121:7-9.  I usually only quote 7 and 8, but last night I used 9 and it was powerful. 

7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

- Doctrine & Covenants Section 121:7–9

   WOW. Thanks so much, Sister Adrienne. In one of Life's many non-coincidences, I read both those scriptures this week myself - although I did miss that ninth verse, and it is a great one; thank you for sharing it.

   Thank you, Elder Andrew - love you, too!