Laverne Ella Grady
July 27, 1930 – September 1, 2024
Laverne Ella Grady went home to be with the Lord on September 1, 2024 at the age of 94. She
passed peacefully with family by her side at the Communities of Wildwood in Joplin, Missouri.
She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend of all whose
lives she touched.
Her family will remember her as a resourceful, loving mother to her six children and any other
children in our neighborhood that seemed to be attracted to our family. She lived a full life
working various jobs including light factory work, selling jewelry & Avon, house cleaning,
clerking at a motel, and clerical work at a mortgage company. She put her heart into everything
she did. Laverne had a real love for music, playing the accordion, dancing, drawing, jigsaw
puzzles, golfing, playing bingo, and going to the casino where she was often a winner.
Laverne was born in Coleman, Wisconsin to Albert and Martha Salefsky on July 27, 1930. She
grew up in Wisconsin along with her nine siblings: Eddie, Evelyn, Walter, Irene, Emmett,
Lawrence, George, Henry, and Sylvina.
Laverne is preceded in death by her son Lawrence (Larry) Grady, her former husband Lester
Grady, both parents, and all of her siblings.
Laverne is survived by her children: Gwen (Paul) Andreshak, Linda (Barry) Oxford, Dan Grady,
Patti (Pat) Landry, and Colleen (Joe) Slaughter, as well as 19 grandchildren and 26
greatgrandchildren.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to all those who lovingly cared for Laverne at
Communities of Wildwood, especially Edwardo and Kaleb.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Area Agency on Aging Region X
located in Joplin, Missouri.
A Celebration of Laverne's Life will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 2pm at
Clark's Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri.