Lavone Richie

Lavone Richie was born October 14, 1922 in Sublette, Kansas to Andrew and Millie Poling Trahern. She passed away peacefully December 28, 2017 at Carla’s Cluster in Limon, Colorado with her favorite aid Jouvanie by her side. She had eight siblings with one dying at birth leaving her the youngest of the family. Lavone was doted on by six brothers and one sister. She and her parents moved from Sublette, Kansas to south of Flagler, Colorado in March 1942. She graduated from Flagler High School in 1943. During the war she corresponded with the neighbor’s son, Jim Richie. Upon his return in the fall of 1945 they dated and were married January 13, 1946. To this union were born three children, Jane, Dean and Robin. They purchased property south of Flagler shortly after they married and built their home themselves in 1952. She lived there until she moved into Flagler in 2008. Lavone dearly loved the farm. She was happiest when she could be with Jim doing various jobs and chores around the farm. Although she was declared legally blind from birth, she could see well enough to do things she probably had no business doing, even driving. She could drive the tractor, drive the truck to pick up bales and often helped move machinery by driving the pickup behind the equipment being moved. She loved having the Schiferl girls and Carol Levin drive truck during harvest. She even helped milk cows until she tangled with one that kicked her hand and knocked a finger off. That was not the only injury she had over the years in helping with the farm work. She lost the end of another finger helping her son Robin move a corn elevator. She fell from a tractor loader bucket while helping Jim put tin siding on a barn and she also broke a leg when she was pinned between a wooden fence and the tractor bucket. That being the case she still lived to the ripe old age of 95 years of age. She always said God looked out for her. Lavone loved having people to visit with and loved playing cards. Some of her favorite times were playing canasta with neighbors Hank and Alberta Tagtmeyer, Elvin and Alice Ward, Kenneth and Orvetta Cox, Ron and Diane Reed and others we don’t remember. She also loved playing pitch with various people in the community. In later years she learned to play Skipbo and would play with anyone who would take the time to play a game with her including her children and grandchildren. Her grandson, Shane, remembers her being very good at that. She dearly enjoyed her grandchildren. According to granddaughter, Kimberly, she was a great caregiver when they had the chicken pox. Her oldest grandson, Troy, called her “Magraw” when he was beginning to talk and in recent years spent an hour or two talking as he was trying to go home. Courtney remembers fondly drinking coffee with Grandma and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Brandon recalls her refrigerated dill pickles and Tracy fondly remembers her teaching him to drive the wheat truck during harvest. She enjoyed her step grandsons, Izeah, Aaron and Austin and they too had memories of playing Skipbo and helping keep the patio window squeaky clean. She also has two step granddaughters, Keri and Missy. She and her niece, Carol Levin, took many trips to various places. She would give Carol a call and tell her she needed to go to Colorado Springs or where ever and Carol would take her. She loved those trips. She and Jim went on trips to Switzerland and Hawaii with Elvin and Alice Ward and took another trip to Hawaii with Jim’s brother and sisters. She enjoyed these tremendously. Lavone moved to Carla’s Cluster Care in February 2014. She was very well cared for at this facility. She and Jouvanie had an ongoing thing about Peter and they were always putting him in time out which would make her laugh. Director Caranel always had Lavone’s best interest at heart. Lavone was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-five years, Jim. Also, her brothers and sister and spouses as well and her brothers and sisters-in laws and several nieces and nephews preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Jane (Vern) Otto of Falcon, sons, Dean (Rhonda) Richie of Seibert and Robin (Michelle) Richie of Flagler. She is survived by 11 grandchildren: Troy, Tracy, Kimberly, Brandon, Shane, Courtney, Keri, Izeah, Aaron, Austin and Missy. She is survived by sixteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, many of whom fondly knew her as Aunt Vonnie.