LaVonne Joyce Burklund, 86, of Paxton, died at 4:55 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2023, at Gibson Area Hospital Annex.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells Street, Paxton with Pastor Marcus McCollom officiating.  Burial will follow in Glen Cemetery, Paxton.

Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

LaVonne was born March 13, 1936, in Huntington, Indiana the daughter of Lewis Grayston and Naomi I. Boundy Eppard.  She married Arnold S. Burklund July 6, 1957, at the Paxton United Methodist Church.  He preceded her in death October 19, 2000.

She is survived by two daughters, Sharon (Barry) Spicer of Loda, Denise Miller of Gibson City; a son, Carey (Shari) Burklund of Paxton; six grandchildren, Rachel (Jake) Buchanan, Missy (Cody) Evans, Tiffany Spicer, Abbey (Cody) Burns, Skyler Niemann, Reid Miller; three great grandchildren and a brother, Rodney Eppard of South Carolina.

LaVonne attended Indiana schools until 1952 and graduated from Paxton High School in 1954.  She retired from the Ford County Soil & Water Conservation District in 2002.  Before that, she had worked for CIPS and Shore Sales and had been the secretary for the Evangelical Covenant Church.

She was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Paxton and a former member of the Paxton Hospital Auxiliary.

LaVonne enjoyed sewing for herself and her family as they grew up; she also loved to knit, work in the garden and her flower beds.  She enjoyed cooking and baking especially over the holidays.  Lavonne and Arnie enjoyed ballroom dancing with their many friends for over 20 years.  Her last hobby, besides reading books, was painting, which she did for a long time until her illness took the enjoyment out of it.

Memorials may be made to the Paxton Evangelical Covenant Church.  Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.