Morphew, Lavina Lorraine Lines

MARION - Lavina Lorraine Lines Morphew, 93, died at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, after medical complications at Mercy Medical Center. She resided most of her life in Rockford, Iowa, moving to Marion 16 years ago.

Lavina is remembered as a friendly senior who enjoyed meeting new people and greeting them by their names. One of her favorite pastimes was playing Scrabble and she relished a close-score game!

Lavina dearly loved her family, which included her three children and their spouses, Keith and Judy Morphew of Mason City, Karen and Randy Balderston of Alburnett, and Mary Riley of Lebanon, Conn. Lavina's grandchildren brought her great joy: Kimberly Balderston, currently of Alburnett, Ryan Balderston (resident of Heaven since November 1988), Aaron and Dawn Balderston of Alburnett, Kristie and Matt Pealer of Sunrise Beach, Mo., Joy Riley Bellows of Connecticut, and stepgrandchildren, Connie Martin McCoy and Doug Martin of Mason City. Great-grandchildren were extra blessings: Jordan, Breanne and Mason Balderston, Lucas, Alexis, Olivia and Ryan Bellows and stepgrandchildren, Jaret and Jacie Pealer. She was also fond of her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Walter and Maurice Lines; and her grandson, Ryan.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion. The family will greet friends immediately following the funeral at the funeral home. A luncheon will be served at the Christian Church in Alburnett at 4 p.m. Special graveside services will be held at a later date for inurnment at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Iowa.

Please sign the online guest book for Lavina at  under obituaries.