The world lost a beloved soul, LaVonne Oglesby, on Monday, March 4, 2024. LaVonne battled stage 5 kidney failure and the complications associated with it, but it never stopped her from lighting up when her family was in her room. LaVonne passed away in her sleep after being surrounded by her daughters, Renee, Rashelle and Rhonda. Her last words were her telling Renee that she had “pretty hair.” LaVonne was known for her beautiful long, blond hair and community members continued to comment on their memories of it even after she passed.
LaVonne was born in Fargo, N.D., on March 18, 1940. She loved sharing stories of her early life on the family farm in New England, N.D. She grew up surrounded with love from her aunt Bernice and uncles Melvin and Elmer who ran the farm.
At the age of 15, she moved to Warden, Wash., with her parents: Pat and Stella, and her siblings: Sherla, Patty and Merrill. And then on to Clarkston, where she graduated from Charles Francis Adams High School in 1958.
She met and fell in love with Melvin William Oglesby her senior year. They were married on May 29, 1958, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, in Clarkston, surrounded by LaVonne’s favorite red and white roses. She was passionate about roses and cared for several long cultivated rose bushes and other beautiful flowers in her yard the rest of her adult life.
Her other passion, besides being a stay-at-home mom for her three daughters, was selling Avon to her friends and neighbors. She loved being social and being able to provide products that enhanced many lives in her neighborhood. She won numerous Avon awards during her long career with the company and took great pride in displaying them in a special display case in her home.
Her social nature also came alive during the 1980s when she and Mel attended the Clarkston Moose Lodge to eat, dance and celebrate friendships every Saturday night. She loved curling her long hair, putting on her chiffon cocktail dresses and picking out just the right pieces from her Avon jewelry collection. Moose members often commented on how smoothly she floated around the dance floor.
Her later years were filled with her greatest source of joy, her grandchildren: Sarah, Alex, Brittany, Josh and Anna; and her great-grandchildren: Milo, Ezra and Olivia. Hundreds of photos tell the long story of a very proud grandma and great-grandma.
LaVonne will be missed by us all and the hole in our hearts left by her passing will one day be filled when we are reunited in heaven. The family would like to thank the caring staff at TriState Dialysis Center for their outstanding support and care over the last year. LaVonne was treated as a friend during her weekly treatments and she treasured the kindness of them all.
