LaVonne Pechin

Lavonne (Turner) Pechin, of Newburgh, IN passed away on March 22, 2022 in Canyon, TX of natural causes. She was 95. Lavonne was born on August 22, 1926 to James Wade Turner and Letha (McCray) Turner on the family ranch in Woods County, Oklahoma. She married Edgar Harold Pechin in Alva, Oklahoma on June 7, 1952. To this union two sons and three daughters were born. Lavonne graduated from Alva High School in Alva, Oklahoma in 1944 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the St. Louis Institute of Music. She earned her Master’s in Music at the University of Michigan. Lavonne started her career teaching music in Ashland, Kansas where she met her future husband, Edgar. Edgar’s career in the petroleum industry required the family to move occasionally and they settled in Evansville, Indiana where he passed away in 1968. Lavonne, while raising her 5 children, became the Director for the Carver Day Care Center, and earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. In 1969, she and her colleague, Martha DeGroote, started the 4 C’s in Evansville, a child care referral service. She went on to become the Director of the University of Evansville’s day care centers and taught Early Childhood Education classes at the university. In the mid 80’s she founded KALP, Inc, a food nutritional program for children. Lavonne retired at the age of 87. Lavonne was a long time member of the Oak Hill Baptist Church and played the piano there for many years. Lavonne traveled widely, going to countries such as China, Mongolia, Russia, The United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Haiti. Also, besides traveling and spending time with her family, she also enjoyed playing the piano, singing, snuggling with her dogs and cats, gardening, reading, feeding birds and squirrels, cooking, drives in the country, lunch with friends, learning new things, and helping those in need. Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents, JW and Letha Turner and baby sister, Lorraine. She is survived by her children, Edgar (Liuba) Pechin, of Evansville, Indiana, Barbara (Brian) Neer, of West Lafayette, Indiana, Candace (Rodney) Talbert of Sterling Colorado, Kay Pechin of Canyon, Texas, and Tim Pechin, Newburgh Indiana, and grandchildren, Matthew Neer of Bloomington, Indiana, Emily Neer of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lindsey Talbert of Wickenburg, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Lavonne’s favorite non-profit, 4C of Evansville. Graveside service and burial will be at the Alva, Oklahoma Cemetery, March 29,2022

LaVonne Pechin

August 22, 1926 - March 22, 2022