LaVern M Johnson 

Funeral Services | Wednesday, May 25

Town of Lyons hosts funeral services for
Town Matriarch and former Trustee Mrs. LaVern M. Johnson

The Town of Lyons is sad to share that the town’s matriarch, Mrs. LaVern M. Johnson, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Mrs. LaVern, as she was affectionately known in Lyons, was born on July 23, 1927 to Bernie LaVern and Irene Marie (Emmerling) McConnell.

LaVern graduated from Lyons High School in 1945 as Valedictorian from a class of five. After graduation she attended Barnes Business College. LaVern was very involved in the Lyons community where she attended the Lyons Methodist Church (Lyons Community Church) and taught Sunday School for 35 years; served on the Lyons Town Board for 13 years; was a Founder and Director of the Lyons Redstone Museum for over 40 years and volunteered for the Lyons Parks and Recreation Committee for 56 years. Mrs. LaVern was a key figure in forming the Lyons Historical Society in 1973 which as an organization later saved the historic train depot and the 1881 original schoolhouse. The depot now hosts town offices and the schoolhouse is now the Lyons Redstone Museum. She was a key figure in the fight to stop Coffintop Dam from being built above Lyons and was an advocate to keep the schools in Lyons since 1948. Finally, she wrote her weekly “About Town” column in the Lyons Recorder for 38 years, her last column was on April 7th. She received many accolades over her lifetime and led one crusade after another for her beloved town of Lyons. The Town of Lyons renamed Meadow Park to LaVern M Johnson Park in 2016, which she helped to save from development.
 
On April 23, 1950 she married Floyd LaVerne Johnson and they were together until his passing in 1997. In their free time, Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne enjoyed square dancing. They started the Red Rock Ramblers square dance club in 1958. The Red Rock Ramblers, the Square Dusters and the Foot & Fiddle square dance clubs will partner together to have 3 more dances this summer to honor Mrs. LaVern and all she has meant to the square-dancing community in Colorado.
 
Mrs. LaVern was preceded in death by her husband Floyd LaVerne; her parents; her brother Herbert Reese McConnell; her sisters Berene Rose Sullivan and Violet Ann Betz.
 
She is survived by her sons Gerald LaVerne Johnson and Ronald Wayne Johnson (wife Cindy Weinel); her grandchildren Trevor, Audrey and Randall Johnson; her siblings Sharon Dee McConnell and Byron Ray (Sharon) McConnell; her nieces Rosamond Sullivan, Terri Weir, Laura Jueschke, Kelly Duff, Jackie Guntle, Barbara Gill, Deb Waggoner, and LeAnn Salazar; and her nephews Floyd Sullivan, Tracy McConnell and Scott Leiding.
 
Visitation will be held from 4:00-5:00 pm Wednesday May 25, 2022 at the Lyons Elementary School, followed by an outdoor memorial service beginning at 6:00 pm at LaVern M. Johnson Park.  The Town of Lyons invites residents to walk, bike or stroll to the park, as parking is very limited. Please leave dogs at home.

A private burial will take place at Lyons Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Lyons Historical Society PO Box 9, Lyons, CO 80540. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.