LaVerne D. Wilson, 72, Neosho, died Jan. 15, 2014 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, following a rapid decline of health. LaVerne was born Aug. 8, 1941 in Burlington, IA and moved to Neosho in 2008 from Plainview, TX. He graduated from Southern Nazarene University with a Master's degree in Theology and has been a pastor of the Nazarene Church for 34 years and spent 10 years as a prison chaplain at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Plainville, before moving to Neosho. LaVerne served as Newton County ARES Coordinator; Red Cross DAT team; a volunteer foster parent for Faithful Friends Animal Advocates and was very active in Amateur Radio Services. He was an active member of the Neosho Church of the Nazarene. LaVerne and Ruth LaVelle' Bickford were married on June 28, 1963 in Security, CO and LaVelle survives of the home. Other survivors include four children, Brad Wilson and Marla Schmidt, Neosho; Steve Wilson and wife, Christy, Pea Ridge, AR; Brian Wilson and wife, Cynthia, Harlingen, TX and Cindy Dupre and husband, Norman, Neosho; one sister, Kathleen White and husband, Joel, Clinton, ILL; 17 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.