Laverne Mae (Beyerle) Brown

Laverne Mae (Beyerle) Brown passed away peacefully November 21, 2023 in Caldwell, Idaho, three days

before her 89th birthday. Born November 24, 1934 in Dallas, Oregon to William Beyerle and Esther Linscheid Beyerle.

She attended Perrydale School in Perrydale, Oregon for twelve years. Living across the street from the

school, general store, post office and church. She had one younger sister, Lorena.

Laverne took piano lessons from eight years old until 13. Riding her bike to lessons for fifty cents a week

until she could play, “all the hymns in the hymnal.” Then, with her friends, took turns playing for church.

She had 35 cousins, and visited them often in the Dallas area. She loved her church, going fishing,

growing gardens, singing, playing the piano and traveling. Church was always her spiritual and social

connection.

After high school graduation, she attended Oregon State College, majoring in Medical Technology (now

Oregon State University). Studying at the University of Oregon Medical Center for three summers in

Portland, Laverne earned a Bachelor of Science in 1956. She took on a triple major, Phlebotomy,

Laboratory Science, and Radiation Technology.

She met Kenneth LaVerne Brown on a blind date her Senior year of high school and re-kindled their

relationship when he showed up on her college dorm door step her junior year. They were married in the

fall of 1956. She worked for two years before the family came along. Laverne and Ken had three children.

The family moved from Oregon to Washington and finally to California, as Ken was a general manager for

J.C. Penney’s stores. Ultimately Ken retired in Healdsburg, California after 20 years, and they purchased

Weller-Hopkins Furniture Company, and moved to Petaluma, California in 1975. Retiring again in 1985,

Ken was ordained as Senior Care Minister for the Petaluma Christian Church. Working another ten years

together, they visited rest homes, taking Laverne’s keyboard and cookies along, playing oldies, popular

hymns and singing for the guests. They took many seniors on day outings around the Bay Area, enjoying

every minute of their adventures.

Laverne authored a memoir titled, “Perrydale Memories and More,” composed songs from the Psalms,

painted with Ken along back roads, traveled to Spain, Italy, Hong Kong and South Korea. They took

cruises, and drove across the United States. Laverne and Ken helped support and worked with their

church, traveling to Mexico and Rancho de los Ninos Orphanage.

Ken and Laverne moved to Montague, California in 2000 and enjoyed a 17 year retirement there, before

moving back to Petaluma. Ken passed away in 2021, after 65 years together. Laverne chose to move

with her daughter and her husband to Middleton, Idaho in the fall of 2022. She lived with her daughter

until September 2023.

Laverne was predeceased by her parents and husband Ken. She is survived by her sister Lorena Bliven,

daughter Patty Brown (Steve), sons Curtis (Laurie) Brown and Bill (Karen) Brown, Grandchildren; Shawn

Morrison (Heather), Devin Brown (Sarah), Alan Brown (Sasha), Ian and Megan Brown, as well as

Great-grandsons Sawyer and Zachary Morrison, including many nieces and nephews.

Laverne will be interred at Cypress Hill Cemetery, Petaluma, California on Friday December 1st, 2023.

Donations in Laverne’s name may be made to the Petaluma Christian Church or Berean Christian

Church, Grenada, California, or to a charity of choice.