Lavern Delcour, son of the late Charles E. and Golda (Ward) Delcour, was born on December 23, 1930 in St. George, Missouri and departed this life to his Heavenly home on October 24, 2009 in the Rocky Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Mansfield, Missouri. He was 78 years, 10 months and 1 day of age.
Lavern was raised in rural Wright County and attended school at Cold Water and Elk Creek. At seventeen years of age he enlisted in the United States Army where he served two years from 1948 – 1950. On January 11, 1958 he was united in marriage to Audra Crisp. Six children were born to this union.
Lavern owned and operated two service stations in the Manes area and was also employed at Fort Leonard Wood as a foreman. In the winter of 1977, he moved his family to the Mtn. Grove area where he was employed as the Assistant Police Chief.
He was later married to Barbara Skidmore of Norwood on August 25, 1986. They were happily married for the past twenty-three years. Lavern operated a beef farm in the Norwood area but had to retire in 1996 due to health problems.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and especially enjoyed doing so with his sons and grandchildren. He was known for his gardening and the abundance of food he grew and shared with others. His favorite pastime was attending gospel singings and his strong baritone voice could always be heard.
As long as his health permitted he was attending the Bethel Church.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers: Dale Delcour, Farris Delcour, Doyle Delcour, and Clarrel Delcour; and by one granddaughter: Alana Roy.
He is survived by his loving wife: Barbara Delcour of their home; nine children: Dwayne Delcour and his wife, Sue, of Mansfield, Missouri, Danny Delcour and his wife, Glenda, of Houston, Missouri, Regina Roy and her husband, Eddie, of Mtn. Grove, Randy Delcour and his wife, Cindy, of Mtn. Grove, Dianna Baker and her husband, Ralph, of Lynchburg, Missouri, Robert Delcour and his wife, Sarah, of Mansfield, Missouri, April Dillard of Norwood, Missouri, Chris Dillard and his wife, Bev, of Hobart, Indiana, and Mike Pratt and his wife, Catherine, of Hartville, Missouri; two brothers: Linden Delcour of Rogersville, Missouri and Verbal Delcour of Brookline, Missouri; four sisters: Wilma Mabe of Mtn. Grove, Charlene Stanley of Rogersville, Missouri, Linda Wood of Nixa, Missouri, and June Cogdill of Rogersville, Missouri; twenty-three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Lavern’s final days were surrounded by the love of his wife, children, grandchildren and other family members who will sadly miss him, but will anxiously wait for the great reunion day in Heaven.
