Celebrating the Life of
Lavern Faddis
August 22, 1930 — December 4, 2023
Obituary
Lavern Faddis, 93, passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on August 22, 1930, in Qualls, Cherokee County, Oklahoma to Joseph Milton Faddis and Junie Marksberry Faddis. She was the seventh of eight children. She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings, Elsie, Nettie, Haskell, Ernest, Lee, B.D., and Joe Mac.
Lavern attended Qualls Schools and was a graduate of Tahlequah Central High School class of 1948.
She married Gene Vanderpool in 1948 and together had three sons. She is survived by her sons Mike Vanderpool, Terry Vanderpool and David Vanderpool, seven grandchildren (Priscilla, Casey, Cindy, Jared, Leah, John and Adam), fifteen great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and friends.
Lavern was a Christian and lived her life for God. Her beliefs were firm and she took every opportunity to speak of them and be a living testimony for Jesus.
She was a homemaker most of her life but did work outside the home occasionally. She worked at Saint Francis Hospital and Tulsa Public Schools. Later she worked in a Christian bookstore in Owasso and volunteered at Claremore Regional Hospital. She enjoyed those jobs and and liked talking about what she did and the people she worked with.
They raised their sons in Tulsa first renting an apartment in west Tulsa then on East 1st Street. Their first owned home was a small two-bedroom house at 7148 East Ute Street near the Tulsa airport. Later they lived at 5924 East Latimer Street and at 5930 East 25th Street.
Lavern lived at Baptist Village in Owasso, Oklahoma at her passing where she made many close friends. The final month of her life was spent at Porta Caeli Hospice House in Tulsa where she received excellent loving care from Porta Caeli staff as well as Good Shepherd Hospice Nurse Angela, Chaplain Carrie, Aide Katelyne and Social Worker Gigi.
On her high school diploma she wrote as her motto: The secret of success is the constancy of purpose.
Anyone who knew her well knows she would often reach back to "the old days" when she was young, growing up in the country, on the farm. She would tell you how things were done then and how the family got by. As she would say they were poor but never hungry. God and hard work provided for their needs.
She realized that that way of life was gone and wanted to somehow leave a record of that life to her sons, grandchildren and future offspring. So, in 2004, she started a book about it.
She wrote her story from the point of view of a sewing machine, the old Singer treadle sewing machine that belonged to her mother. That is the sewing machine that came to Oklahoma from Arkansas in a horse-drawn wagon that her mother used to make their clothes. That was the sewing machine that was always there in her parents home that was seemingly in near constant use. Her thought, in 2004, was, "if the sewing machine could talk..."
So she wrote her story, "100 Years Of Stitches" and gave her sons and wives and grandchildren and neices, nephews and friends a written account of her life on the farm and how things were done in the old days. Many of her friends and family have copies of that book.
And, in dedicating her story, she left a little insight into her own heart. She wrote: "To Mom and Dad: All I am or hope to be, I owe to the simple things you taught me."
And the sewing machine? It's still around, still observing and still sewing but just for fun now and not necessity.
Memories and Condolences
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Always looked forward to Aunt Lavern and Uncle Gene visiting! She was always in such a good mood laughing and smiling. Wish I could have spent more time with her but loving so far away prevented that. Always will have great memories of her
Old Ironside.
I found this school perfect attendance certificate for the 1940-1941 school year behind a picture in the frame. The certificate has a photo of The Constitution, Old Ironside. Next picture is of the back of the certificate where it tells the story of the reconditioning of Old Ironside and how $400,000 was raised by children across the nation donating pennies.
Lavern and brother Lee (my husband Stephan’s dad). She loved telling me how he took and bought her this dress and she was on top of the world. I miss you dearly and will miss our in person and phone visits.
Grandma you are missed. I am thankful I got to be apart or your life, and that you were in mine. Thank you for the good times and for sharing your memories. Pictured is Leah and I doing chores with Grandma. She always had several pairs of mud boots and an old army shirt that we would wear. Her house was one of my favorite places growing up.
Aunt Lavern on the right with brothers Ernest and Joe and nieces Mickey and Anita in front of the house where Lavern and Joe were born.
Laverne and my mother were lifelong friends since high school in Tahlequah. I remember her as a child and Mike, Terry and David because they were close to me and my sister’s ages. I always loved her cinnamon rolls, but it wasn’t until she was in her seventies that I went to her house and she showed me how to make them. At Christmas she would give my mom her homemade peanut brittle and my whole family loved it. Many times we visited her with my mother, but after my mom passed away, seeing her made us feel closer to my mom and she said the same thing about me and my sisters. The last time I saw her was with my sisters this last September. It was very special. We stayed for hours enjoying her stories. My sister Jeanette lives in Tennessee and I now live with her and her husband. Jeanette would text back and forth with her often and send pictures of her grandchildren and she would send us pictures. She sent me some old pictures of my family. She was a kind and wonderful lady and will certainly be missed.
Grandma, Grandson Casey Vanderpool and Great Grandson Calvin Vanderpool, and Great Granddaughter Nicky Vanderpool Miss You Grandma, Best Grandma Ever
My Grandmother was a very important part of my life, particularly my childhood, many summers of which were spent on her rambling farm. An idyllic, Rockwellian experience: fresh country meals and playing with all the farm animals. Sitting under the apple (or horse apple?) tree in the blistering Oklahoma summer night and watching the fireflies. No TVs and no smartphones. Just country joy. My grandmother loved us tremendously. I am thankful that her long years of life in the end gave me the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me and the wonderful impact she had on my life.
One of many, perhaps hundreds, of Lavern's quilts. This one belongs to Grandson Adam, who says "this quilt has traveled the world with me, its been in many forests and on wildland fires". "I can't sleep without it". Today, its still in his camper ambulance. Its probably quite dirty, well-loved and appreciated.
Mom and Grandson John
Mom and Grandson Adam
Mom's 90th birthday with her three sons. August 22, 2020
This picture was taken in the summer before Papa died. Mom (Lavern) and I were getting ready to pick corn. We went home and removed the kernels from the corn them fried it and froze it. Mom showed me how to do it.
She was my Aunt and 3rd mother to me growing up. She was the 7th generation of Faddis' starting with Alexander Fiddes 1696 of Aberdeen Scotland through Joseph Milton Faddis 1895 of Arkansas. She literally became the matriarch of the Faddis Clan after Grandma June passed in 1968. She was the "rock" of our family that kept everyone together. She will be missed. As an old sailor like my father (her brother) before me I wish her "fair winds and following seas"!
Easter 2023
Easter 2023
She lived on a 30 acres at one time in her life. She had chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks both white and dark, donkeys both big and small, and of course cows. My kids were small when she lived there. One time on a visit we all were in the barnyard a rooster got after my daughter who was 3. Mom took a board and swung at the rooster. She hit it and it did not get up. She encouraged me to learn to can fruits and vegetables. I was so proud of my first canning. Mom looked at my apple butter and said I may have cooked it to long. It wasn't burnt just dark. I wanted it thick She has never been a mother-in-law law she has almost since our wedding day been a mom-in-law. We've been to Red Hats together. We've been to emergency rooms and hospitals, doctor appoints together. She has also been my friend. She will be deeply missed.
Sister Lavern was a precious lady . More like family ❤️ We went to church together when I was a teenager. Then was blessed to be together in Owasso . She helped me make pickles and shared several of her recipes with me. She loved her plants and country life and would tell us her favorite memories which we still cherish and talk about . Her love for family was genuine. I will miss her advise on recipes and her laughter. So thankful to have known her so many years and had her in my life . ❤️
I remember that day I walked into her little apartment to meet her for the first time in early September.. and just as I made eye contact I just knew that she’d make a huge impact in my life. It was only my second visit when she’d asked if she could adopt me.. lol She had me promise her that I’d stick with her to the very end, and of course… she didn’t even have to ask. I knew God sent me there for a reason. The goodness of God, and the way he provides that comfort and love…💝 I remember when she moved to Porta Caeli, they tried to switch her hospice aids… I quickly responded to that, of course they didn’t know about our promises we made.. but I corrected it and was there till the end. She’d already taken ahold of God’s hand before my shift on Monday, and that’s okay! I know she’s loving it up there in Heaven and I’ll see her again! .. We talked about so much during our visits. She’d tell me stories of her past, and I just loved listening to her sweet voice. She had the absolute sweetest, most softest voice… we talked a whole lot about Jesus! Every single visit it was either me telling her my small testimonies, telling her what I learned in the different parts of the Bible I’ve been reading. And I’d ask her questions.. all of the above. She was a great listener and she loved so much that I love the Lord. And I cannot forget to mention, this little lady had to have her hair just in the right place. Hair gel, 40 Bobby pins (definitely exaggerating, but still.. LOl) hair spray x2…. She wasn’t a fan of the little flyaways! A matter of fact, I actually learned how to French braid with her long beautiful hair. And that’s something else that I will most definitely not ever forget… as I get to now French braid my 4 year olds hair. Anyways, Lavern… I miss you already and I can probably go on and on with this memorial message, but until we meet again.. I love you, love bug!! Hugs& hugs. And may God have his arms wrapped around all of your dear family and friends💝
My precious Aunt Laverne! I took this photo the day before she passed. I held these hands and loved on her for a little while. These hands loved on me my whole life. These hands quilted keepsake items that both of my children cherish to this day. These hands made delicious meals for me anytime I came to visit. The hands of a God-fearing woman who cherished family more than anything except her Lord. I feel blessed to have been loved and spoiled by her and will miss our phone calls, visits and all the fun texts (fun emojis and all!).
I just wanted to let all of Laverne's family know that she was very loved by everyone of her team members at Good Shepherd. She was the sweetest woman and we were so blessed to have her in our lives. I will never forget her.
Lavern was a Great Lady and My Very Dear Friend. - Jean Vanderpool
My first memories of Aunt Lavern were going over to visit with my family when I was a very little girl. I looked forward to those visits so much. Aunt Lavern had a warmth about her and it gave me comfort to be around her. As an adult even though I didn’t see her often , I had those same feelings of warmth and comfort when I was with her and yes I loved her laugh! What a beautiful lady she was. She will always be in my heart.
Laverne has been a good friend for many years. She was a school mate then a sister in the church. I got closer to her after mom passed. Her and mom would talk on the phone losing track of time and I was that way also. Laverne gave me encouragement time and time again. I know she also prayed for me and mine for God's will in the situations we are facing. I will miss her something awful. Prayers for her family.
I always thought Aunt Lavern was a beautiful lady. Like my cousin, Kaye, I loved to hear her laugh! It was contagious. I respected her deep faith and love of God. I am sure there has been quite a happy reunion in Heaven this week! Love and prayers to the family in their time of loss!
I loved it when we were visiting Aunt Lavern and Uncle Gene’s house and she made waffles for dinner! We didn’t have a waffle iron, so those waffles were a real treat to me. I loved her laugh, too, and her dedication to God. My condolences to all her family.
Laverne and I at the Jones Center in Springdale Arkansas. We had so much fun together. She took care of me when I was sick and made me the best food. She was a wonderful lady I will always remember with great fondness.
Red Hat Lady.
Graduate and Mother.
Downtown Tulsa with Sister-in-Law Rudine Faddis.
Our mother with lipstick?
Working in the school cafeteria at Owasso schools, 1980s. Lavern on the left.
She took a bus trip to California Summer 1947. Her one and only experience on a deep sea fishing boat.
As a teenager late 1940s.
Having fun with her best friend, Opal Fletcher, about 1947. Lavern is on the left.
Lavern, bottom, dark hair, at Qualls School, about 1937.
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