Lavere York

Lavere Louise York, 85, Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, surrounded by family.

Funeral services were Nov. 5, 2017, at Cullen Funeral Home in Raymore, Missouri, with visitation prior to the service. Interment was in Raymore Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary, (816) 943-2775; or to Wayside Waifs, www.waysidewaifs.org

Lavere was born Dec. 31, 1931, to Henry and Carrie (Vogel) Metzler in Marion, Kansas. As a child, she enjoyed living on a farm where she found her lifelong love of animals. She graduated from Marion High School in 1950 and often returned yearly with her family for Old Settlers’ Day to celebrate with the town and her classmates. She worked in her parents’ local restaurant, famous for its burgers, later moving to Kansas City with her cousin for a job opportunity. This is where she met the love of her life, Billie E. York. Their first date was at Winstead’s on the Plaza. On Sept. 20, 1952, Lavere and Billie were united in marriage. They were blessed with three sons, Kelvin, Michael, and Tim.

In addition to being a homemaker, mother, and grandmother, Lavere worked at University of Missouri – Kansas City in the records department, at Kopps Rug in Lenexa for 15 years, and as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker/Reese-Nichols for 15 years. Later in life, she was a volunteer at St. Joseph Medical Center for 13 years, putting in more than 2,000 hours of service. She was a lifelong dog and cat owner, rescuing many animals over the years. She was an avid gardener, spending time nursing and growing plants and flowers both indoors and outdoors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Carrie Metzler; her husband of 57 years, Billie E. York; and son, Michael Kem York.

Lavere is survived by her sons, Kelvin B. York and wife, Cecilia, and Tim J. York and wife, Danna; and six grandchildren, Andrew York, Tim York, Jr. and wife, Lauren, Emily Kelly and husband, Shea, Samuel York and wife, Aubree, Amanda Spohr and husband, David, and Michelle Kaiser and husband, Kelly.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, MO (816) 322-5278.