Gwendolyn Lawver

Gwendolyn Jean McLinn Lawver, 85, died 01/30/20 following a brief illness.

Born 3/24/1934 in Kimball, South Dakota, Gwenn was the daughter of the late Dale R Mclinn and Alta M Washechek McLinn. She attended Mitchell High School in Mitchell, South Dakota and graduated in 1954. She received a teaching certificate from Dakota Wesleyan.

Gwenn married Lawrence A Lawver on August 22, 1954 in Mitchell. After the couple taught a year of school, Larry joined the army while Gwenn worked at various jobs. In 1957 the couple moved to Renton, Washington. She worked for Pacific Car and Foundry and at Boeings in Seattle. Their 2 daughters were born in Renton.

Gwenn and her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963 and then to Dublin, California in 1965. She worked part time in a machine shop, taught an art class, worked at her children's school library and served on the PTA board. In 1976 the family moved to Glendale, Arizona. She joined the Welcome Wagon and did extensive volunteer work with them. She enjoyed 19 years of belonging to a Christmas boutique called Holiday House. This brought her great joy. After Larry's death in 1995 she moved to Bayfield, Colorado. For the next 19 years she enjoyed her rose garden, fruit trees, cooking for her family, dabbling in all kinds of crafting, and was known for her delicious desserts at her church potlucks. She loved to fish, shop for craft supplies, visit with friends, play games, anything to do with yarn, and was always ready to share a funny joke. She also loved her dog, Ezzy. No one ever left her home without several of her knitted dish cloths. One of her greatest pleasures was crocheting lapghans for the Veterans Hospitals.

In 2014 she moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Grand Junction, Colorado where she resided until her death.

Gwenn was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents, and brother Ronald McLinn. She is survived by her daughters, Becky (Steve) Andrews of Grand Junction and Kristie Heatherly of Houston, Texas; grandsons, Nicholas (Amber) Andrews of Gering, Nebraska, Jeff (Storm) Heatherly of Lubbock, Texas, and granddaughters, Jori (Terry) Leathermon of Grand Junction and Kathleen (Jonathon) Graziano of Fruita, Colorado. Also great-grandchildren, Caleb Andrews, Chandler Leathermon, Logan Andrews, Zaidah Graziano, Sawyer Leathermon, Emery Graziano, Brier Leathermon, and Remington Graziano.

Services will be held at a later date.