LaVonne Symonds Corning

LaVonne Symonds, 95, of Corning died Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at Corning Specialty Care.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 701 Seventh St., in Corning with Mr. Chuck Lyles officiating. Open visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., with family present from 6 to 8 p.m., today, Jan. 28, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Victoria Cemetery, south of Massena. Memorials may be directed to Massena American Legion and Victoria Township Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

LaVonne Symonds, daughter of Dellmond Eldy and Iva Belle (Reed) Hadley, was born April 6, 1920, at her parents’ home in rural Adair County. Her family moved to Adams County in 1924 when she was 4 years old. She graduated from Corning High School with the class of 1937. As a young 13-year old attending school, she resided at the Corning City Jail. In exchange for her room and board, she would make meals for the inmates as well as iron and starch as many as 15 white shirts. Upon graduation, LaVonne spent the next 15 years teaching in rural schools in Adams and Cass counties.

On Aug. 1, 1945, LaVonne married Robert M. Symonds in Des Moines. They spent 49 years together mostly in Adams and Cass counties before moving to Corning in 1982. After teaching, LaVonne started a cake decorating business which thrived for 40 years. She baked and decorated wedding and graduation cakes and retired in 2001.

LaVonne was a member of American Legion Auxiliary, United Methodist Women and Dewey Neighborhood Club.

LaVonne is survived by her daughter Linda (Larry) Pettit of Fairfield; son Butch (Sheila) Symonds of Massena; daughter Bev Embree of Des Moines; son Curt (Julie) Symonds of Massena; grandchildren, Shana (Chris) Spieker, Rob (Niki) Pettit, Jim (Michele) Pettit, Mark Pettit, Ryan (Eva) Jensen, Jessica (David) McClaskey, Stefany (fiancé Travis Mewhirter) Erickson, Libby Embree, Walker Embree, Laura (Tristan) Hapes and Luke ( Emily) Symonds; 16 great-grandchildren; sister Wilma Bunting; sister-in-law Lois Carlisle of Griswold; brother-in-law Bill (Karen) Symonds of Clear Lake; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert; brother Keith Hadley; sister-in-law Pauline Hadley; brother-in-law Kenneth Bunting and nephews, Ronald Bunting and Todd Stamp.