LaVera Howard

LaVera Louise Howard, born June 22, 1944 in Maryville, Missouri to Leslie and Hazel Frampton, entered the world alongside her twin brother Laverne, joining older siblings Shirley and Paul. The family later welcomed another set of twins, Ronald and Donald, filling their home on West 2nd Street with constant activity and laughter. LaVera married Ron Howard on July 16, 1961 after he began dating her during a family trip to Colorado. Though their priest gave the young couple only six months, they shared nearly 52 loving years together.

The couple raised three daughters—Tina, Terri, and Tammy—in Maryville, Missouri, Atchison, Kansas, and Merriam, Kansas. LaVera stayed home during her daughters’ early years before working for twenty-three years in the substitute teacher office for the Shawnee Mission School District. She embraced every change and challenge the role brought. After retiring, she devoted herself to the city of Merriam, serving on the parks board and the Flags for Freedom foundation while volunteering at community events such as the Turkey Creek Run, Breakfast with Santa, and the city market.

LaVera loved reading, shopping, cooking, and traveling. She and Ron cruised to Hawaii and Alaska and took memorable road trips across the country, from the Smoky Mountains to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Gulf of Mexico. Her greatest joy came from her growing family. She delighted in each grandchild and great-grandchild, greeting life with a quick wit, a ready laugh, and an adventurous spirit that remained evident even in her later years when she proudly wore her lavender hair.

LaVera passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026 at Brookdale of Shawnee. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Shirley, brothers Leslie Jr., Ronald, and Donald, and her husband Ron. She is survived by her daughters Tina Howard, Terri Shrader (Jeff), and Tammy Mathieson (Dave), her twin brother Laverne Frampton, her brother Paul Frampton, grandchildren Amanda Hackler, Jessica Cissell, Adam Cissell, Kyle Shrader, Mitchel Reicheneker, and Emma Mathieson, and great-grandchildren Shyann and Harrison Groff, Gunner, Colton, and Levi Shrader, Charlie Reicheneker, and Avianna and Jace Cissell.