12/03/2014
Fern LaVonne (Bivans) Isley, the daughter of Floyd and Ella (Bumgardner) Bivans, was born on January 26, 1928, in Knoxville.
She was raised and attended school in Knoxville.
She was united in marriage to J.D. Isley, Jr. on December 18, 1947. In 1970 they moved to Des Moines where J.D. was transferred by the Iowa National Guard. In 2008, a few years after J.D.’s passing, LaVonne moved to Hannibal, Missouri to be closer to her daughter, residing there until her death.
LaVonne was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. Her family was the most important thing to her. They were her pride and joy. LaVonne was a people person and especially liked older people. She loved to do things for them to make them happy, such as trading flowers and planting and growing them. She would also do things for them that they were unable to do for themselves, like washing their windows and other chores.
LaVonne’s other main interest was working with her flower garden. When spring was approaching, she would become anxious until she could get her hands in the dirt working with flowers.
If she wasn’t in the house, she could be found in her flower garden. LaVonne belonged to the Greater Des Moines Garden Club for several years.
LaVonne enjoyed visiting and socializing with her family and others, traveling, reading, and listening to music, especially country music.
LaVonne passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at the Beth Haven Nursing Home in Hannibal at the age of 86 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, J.D.; two sons, Dennis Isley and Jerald Heaberlin, and daughter, Terri Isley.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Colleen Fantz of Hannibal; daughter-in-law, Barbara Heaberlin of Knoxville; grandchildren, Shane Fantz of Des Moines, Ashley Fantz of Atlanta, Georgia, Brad (Abby) Heaberlin of Columbia, Iowa and Jeff Heaberlin of Knoxville; great-grandchildren, Cole, Emma, and Drew; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville with Rev. Lane Riggle officiating.
Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Dollars For Scholars, the Knoxville Humane Society, or to the donor’s choice.