Lavonne Gilyard of Palmer MN, entered her eternal life on December 30, 2023 with her family by her side. She was born in Middleton, MI to Dale and Capitola Duflo on Sept 13, 1937.

She married the love of her life, Ronald Gilyard, on February 3, 1954. They were married for 67 years until Ron’s passing in 2021.

Lavonne loved family, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She loved for them to visit. And her love was returned tenfold.

Ron and Lavonne and family traveled to many states in their RV.

Following Ron’s career in the ag/grain business, they lived first in Missouri, then settling in Atchison, KS. In addition to Ron’s job, they managed the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Lavonne was the FBO, as well as the bookkeeper.

Lavonne graduated from the Atchison, KS Vo-tech with office management and bookkeeping skills, which she used as airport manager and other jobs later in life.

For fun, she bowled with her daughters on a bowling league. She also enjoyed knitting, reading, playing cards and board games. After living in Kansas, they lived in Miltona MN. Lavonne worked as the caretaker and bookkeeper for a private club on Lake Miltona. They enjoyed their life there.

When it was time to slow down they moved to Palmer, near Ron’s sisters and families, very near to where he was born.

Lavonne enjoyed going to garage sales and buying childrens’ shoes, boots, coats, gloves etc. and donating them to a local school as well as Place of Hope in St. Cloud.

Lavonne is survived by daughters Cheryl (Ed) Gilyard-Fernholz, Barbara (Kelly) Beaman, Wanda Gilyard; and son Dale (Sandy) Gilyard; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and step-sister Brenda.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ronald, her parents and siblings.

Special thanks to nephew, Jerry, for being Lavonne’s caregiver the last year of her life, and for playing many, many games of marbles with her, as well as gin rummy.

The funeral will be held at a later date.