F. Lavern Moore Kelly

F. Lavern Moore Kelly, age 95, of Mena, Arkansas died Sunday, December 15, 2019 at the Mena Regional Health System. She was born on Thursday February 28, 1924 to Charles Hershel and Ethel Alneda Vineyard Moore in Opal, Arkansas.

Lavern as she was known was a lady of faith and love for her family. She was a follower of Jesus Christ and lived her life serving the Lord. Lavern was a lifelong member of Mena First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, taught VBS for 38 years, and went on numerous mission trips to Washington and Oregon. She also traveled to the Holy Lands in 1995 and went on a mission trip to Romania in 1998 and 1999. Lavern was an educator all her life after graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1951 she began a lifelong journey educating the children of Polk County. She began in 1946 teaching at Shady Grove, in Cherry Hill from 1947-1948, Acorn School in 1951 to 1952, Hawkins, Texas from 1952 to 1955, in 1958 she attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and graduated in 1961 with a Master’s Degree in Religious Education, Oden in 1962, and Mena Elementary from 1967 to 1975. She loved working with young people and being a wonderful example of a Godly educator. Lavern enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking her chicken and dressing and apple pies. Lavern was a loving aunt, special friend and teacher to so many and will be missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ray Kelly; brother, Hershel Moore and two sisters, Lucille Brown, and Carrie Jo Lunsford.

Lavern is survived by her sister, Charlene White of Grass Valley, California; her many nieces and nephews and of other family and friends.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Mena with Brother Russell Threet officiating. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena. Visitation will be general. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Mena, 811 Port Arthur, Mena, Arkansas 71953.

Pallbearers will be Cliff Sherrer, Michael Vaughn, Will Bowers, Zane Sherrer, Luke Bowser and Matthew Bowser.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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