LaVerne was born on October 13, 1931, to George and Irene Whitley in their home in the Spring Creek Community outside San Saba, Texas. It was tough living during the Great Depression, but the Whitley family was resilient and improvised. When LaVerne was six, the family lived in a tent at Lake Buchanan while her father helped build the dam. After that project was done, they came back to the Whitley farm and raised sheep and goats.
LaVerne’s teen years were spent at San Saba schools and working on the farm. One day she and a friend went to Brownwood and were socializing on the “drag”. A car pulled over and Billy Hale got out. He and his buddy were actually there to talk to LaVerne’s friend, but LaVerne jumped in the back seat next to Billy and the rest was history.
Billy and LaVerne married on June 4, 1948, at the small church in Ratler, Texas. She was only 16 years old.
LaVerne transferred to Goldthwaite High School and was able to skip a grade and graduate when she was 17.
Not long after that, Billy was drafted into the Korean War. LaVerne was pregnant while he was there and gave birth to Gerald Gene. LaVerne took Gerald with her everywhere. On one occasion while she was helping Billy in the peanut patch, she had set Gerald down on a blanket under the big oak tree in the center of the field. She glanced over and a big rattle snake was just within a couple of feet of Gerald. She ran over with a garden hoe and chopped the head off the snake before it got to Gerald.
LaVerne’s job was to take care of the house and yard and family garden. She was an expert at all things in that department. There were many nieces and nephews that would help Billy at the farm, and she took care of all of them.
In 1965, Sharon Marie was born. LaVerne told Billy that he had Gerald to help him in the field, and she demanded that Sharon stay at the house and help her. Picking vegetables and blackberries, cooking and canning were the jobs of the day.
LaVerne was also involved at First Baptist Church, Goldthwaite. She taught four-year- olds in Sunday School for many years. She was also highly active in Women’s Missionary Union where she was President and taught Girls in Action and Acteens. She also sang in the church choir and had a beautiful soprano voice. She would sing around the house every day as she worked in the kitchen and in the garden.
LaVerne was also very active in her children’s lives. She was room mother to Gerald’s and Sharon’s classes and attended every football, basketball, track meet, band concert, play and choir concert that ever occurred.
The grandkids came and she never stopped. She loved going to Katherine’s, Tamara’s, and John’s events in Goldthwaite and even to their university events at Texas A & M.
One of the biggest events she planned was Sharon’s wedding to Loy at the River. It was spectacular!
Even though Ricky, Michael and Rachael lived far away, she still managed to attend their events in Navasota and at Baylor University.
She loved Loy and Jane and all her grandchildren fiercely.
Grandchildren weddings came along, and more precious people were added to her family. Cindy, Tim, Alyx and Julia were taken care of and loved deeply.
She even loved her great-grand-animals, and told each grandchild when they lost one, that they had a place in Heaven, too.
She loved and cared for Billy for 74 years, and when he left her to join Jesus it took a part of her with him.
In her last years she had a wonderful team of caregivers that wrapped their arms around her and cared for her. Dottie and Keisha were her rocks that never faltered. Sierra and Lisa were always there to make sure she was healthy, and she loved them.
On May 29, 2024, she left this world in her home at Sandyland Farm with her family around her to meet Jesus. The one thing she would tell you is “Do you know my Jesus.” Make sure you know Him today!
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 12, 2024 from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM at Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home, Goldthwaite, Texas. Services will be held Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Goldthwaite, Texas. Interment will follow at Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery, Goldthwaite, Texas.
Arrangements by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home, Goldthwaite, Texas.