Obituary for LaVera Sheets

LaVera Nadine Sheets

August 10, 1930 – January 31, 2020

A tribute to my mother:

It is with great sadness, but more importantly peacefulness that I share the passing of one of Blackwell’s most loyal citizens, LaVera Nadine Anthony Sheets. My mother went home to be with the Lord on January 31, 2020; after courageously battling dementia. She was 89 years old.

LaVera Nadine was born on August 10, 1930 in Blackwell, Oklahoma to her loving parents, Leonard and Mabel Anthony. Mother graduated from Blackwell High School in 1948 with a wonderful class of friends that she always enjoyed keeping up with especially at her high school reunions. Mother was an extremely hard working woman. She started working early in life by ironing shirts for twenty-five cents each before taking a job at Turvey’s Meatpacking company here in Blackwell. She then worked at the Bob Breece Agency as a secretary before moving on to Weigles Insurance Agency where she worked for many years. After my older sister Linda Carol Sheets Jernigan and I graduated from high school, she finally made the jump to selling real estate with Carla Sandy’s agency. We were so proud of her and mother loved working for Carla. She sold many homes in Blackwell, a town she truly loved with all her heart. She often commented that she wished she had kept track of exactly how many homes she sold. She finished her career at Hometown Realtors with owners Doyle and Jackie Steffin and they were wonderful to her as well!

I have truly been blessed with the best mother in the world. My mother was not only a hard worker and my role model, she was a dedicated mother. Mother taught me so many lessons by example. She was never selfish, she was always kind. She always put my sister and my needs before her own. I never realized growing up how very “poor” we were. Mother always made us feel like we had plenty. She always had a savings account going for the 3 of us and then later her 3 grandsons. Mother sure knew how to stretch a dollar! She brought Linda and I up to love God and we always attended church Sunday mornings, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I am so very grateful for my Christian heritage. Mother loved praise and worship her entire life and that helped establish a foundation of love and hope for our family that has served me my entire life.

She had just ended another Bible Study when she unfortunately fell and broke her hip. Up until January 6 she was in wonderful physical shape although her mind was struggling to keep up.

Mother was so proud to eventually become a grandma and loved her grandsons with all her heart. She was “Nana” to Linda and Kenny’s son, Brian, but to my boys, Ryan and Kyle, she will always be known as “Mema from Blackwell.” That’s even what her precious great grandchildren call her now too including 8 year Summer and 1 year old Nolan whom she has had a very sweet and loving connection with. She always put family first and was a shining example until the very end of how love never fails.

I am so thankful that mother was able to finish out her life living in Florida for the last 3 years. It was so hard on her leaving Blackwell, but she was strong as always and handled it like a trooper in order to retire and spend more time with our family. Mother so enjoyed all the greeting cards that were sent to her these last few years. Mother loved cards – sending them and receiving them. She also loved baking for people. While I was still at home we always teased her and renamed bundt cakes as “funeral cakes” because she made and took so many cakes to funerals. Then she moved on to her brownies. Many of you have probably been recipients of these delicious pans of chocolate heaven. If you were, please know how much she enjoyed baking them for you.

Thank you for all the treasured memories I have, mother! Your passion for music and all the moments playing the piano for Linda and I, your love of chicken strips, Braum’s ice cream, cherry limeades from Sonic, chocolate cake, our wonderful times on South E, your favorite

poem you always recited, and your favorite Scripture, Psalm 121. I could go on raving forever about you because you have been such a wonderful mother and influence on my life. I have a folder of hundreds of letters you wrote to Keith and I over the last 44 years. They almost always started out, “Greetings from Northern Oklahoma!” How I treasure those letters with all the news of Blackwell and your take on everything.

While I won’t be receiving any more letters, I’m even more excited to think that any future letters she would write would say, “Greetings from heaven!” Mother, you no longer have any storms to worry about. You no longer have to be fearful and afraid that you won’t know where you are. You will be walking those golden streets in perfect weather with Grandma and Grandpa, Linda, and Kyle. Enjoy every minute. You deserve it. I’m so very proud to be your youngest daughter and I will cherish the memories we made forever. I love you more than you know,

Rhonda Lynn Sheets Maule

Other family members that will truly miss her: son-in-law , Keith Maule, her oldest grandson, Ryan Maule and his wife Amber who gave mother two of the most perfect great-grandchildren ever: Summer Grace 8, and Nolan Zeal, 16 months.

Son-in-law, Kenneth Lee Jernigan, and grandson, Brian Wayne Jernigan who always had a special relationship with her.

Her best friend and first cousin Lea Reames.

Her very special relationship with Rhonda Buesing and her daughters Kara, Beth, and Lisa. She loved the four of you.

She is also survived by her brother, Robert Anthony and his wife Elizabeth of Missouri. She loved “Bobby” and his family very much including his lovely daughters Lisa and Robin and their families.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Leonard and Mabel Anthony, her daughter, Linda Carol Jernigan and her grandson, Kyle Allen Maule.

Blackwell you truly lost one of your best citizens!

We will celebrate Mother’s life at The First Christian Church where her Pastor, Jeff Koch that she thought so much of will preside. The service will be on Friday, February 7 at 10:00 am with graveside service following at Blackwell Cemetery.