Laverna Goughnour

LAVERNA "BEV" GOUGHNOUR

Cedar Rapids

Laverna Mae "Bev" Goughnour, 94, formerly of Monticello and Marion, died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, with Tom and Dave at her side, following a brief illness. A celebration of Bev's life will be Saturday, Dec. 6, at First Presbyterian Church in Monticello, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and services at 11 a.m. Private internment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The Rev. Al Polito will officiate at the services. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Monticello Public Library or Monticello School Foundation.

LaVerna Mae Bevans was born June 25, 1920, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Clyde and Ida Swick Bevans. Bev attended school in the Waverly area and graduated from high school in Ridgefield, Wash. She attended Iowa State Teachers College for two years, and then Coe College for two years, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in education/psychology. Bev taught in rural schools near Plainfield and Kesley until 1944, when she accepted a teaching position in the Monticello Community Schools. On June 6, 1947, she married Ray Coyle in Davenport. The couple lived in Monticello, where Bev taught social studies in the junior high school. Ray died Dec. 16, 1972.

Bev married Roy Goughnour on Oct. 19, 1979. Bev continued teaching in Monticello until 1983, when she retired. The couple moved to a condo in Marion in September 1997. Roy preceded her in death on May 18, 1999.

Bev resided in Marion for several years before moving to Cottage Grove in Cedar Rapids, where she lived for the past 10 or so years.

Bev was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Monticello. She had been active in the NEA and ISEA, Riverside Gardens, as a Camp Courageous volunteer, American Cancer Society, Retired Teachers and 94 Club.

Bev's family included three nieces and two nephews, JoAnn Schwartz of Waverly, the Rev. Kay Dillard of Marysville Tenn., Ellen (Bruce) Janis of Cedar City, Utah, Bob Vosseller of Gilbert, Ariz., and John Bevans (deceased) of Florence, Ore.; two stepchildren, Dick (Ellie) Goughnour of Memphis, Tenn., and JoDee (Keith) Roof of North Liberty; five stepgrandchildren, Patrick (Susie) Roof, Michele Cavarrubias, Andrea Goughnour, Trent (Kandi) Goughnour and Michael (Holly) Goughnour; and six stepgreat-grandchildren.

Also two "unadopted" sons, David (Helen) Morgan of Monticello and Tom Hoffman of Dubuque. Bev is survived by two very, very special people in her life, her dear friends, Maxine Marek of Maquoketa and Gene Mahaney of Cottage Grove, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; along with all the many friends in Monticello, Marion and Cottage Grove in Cedar Rapids, whom she loved so dearly.

Bev was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Ida (Becky) Swick Bevans; two brothers, Orval of Oregon City, Ore., and Dr.. Lloyd Bevans of Turlock, Calif.; and two sisters, Edith Vosseller of Plainfield and Mabel in infancy.