LaVern was born in Cromwell, Oklahoma to Alvy and Florence Cullum. She was raised and attended school in Natura, OK. On April 6, 1941, she married Kenneth Kunkler in Okmulgee, OK. Kenneth died on March 20, 1994. After their marriage, they moved to California in 1946 and then to Hammond, Oregon in 1949. They later purchased a home in Warrenton where she resided for 50 years and raised their three children. She then moved to Neawanna by the Sea where she lived for 7 months before passing.

LaVern worked in a local seafood cannery, San Juan in Warrenton which was later known as New England Fish and Pacific Coast Seafood. She later went to work for Ocean Foods in Astoria and retired in 1984.

She was a long time member of TOPS of Warrenton, where she looked forward to meeting with other members weekly. She had many friends, and fond memories of their meetings and annual retreats. Many of those same friends and others met every other week at a designated home to play pinochle. When she could no longer drive, her pinochle friends kindly drove to her new home in Seaside, at Neawanna, to have their card parties. LaVerns family is thankful to those special friends whose companionship meant a great deal to her.

Although she only lived for a short time at Neawanna by the Sea, she quickly became friends with others that lived and worked there. Their staff was very kind to LaVern, as was the staff at Providence Seaside Clinic and Hospital. They all took wonderful care of her over the past few months. She was especially fond of Lynn Hoth, her Dr. Lynn who always treated her with compassion and respect. Her family is grateful for Lynn to have been there for LaVern on her final day.

The most important thing in LaVerns life was her family. She spent many weekends over the years driving across Oregon, between the homes of her children, dividing her time equally amongst the families. She will be remembered by her children as a mother that would do anything for her family. She was proud of the individuals they had become. Her grandchildren were very aware that they were the light of her life, and appreciate the time they were able to spend with her. LaVern felt fortunate to know and spend time with her great grandchildren and then spend the last 5 years living with, and experiencing her great-great grandchildren. In the months preceding her death, she was able to spend time with each and every family member. This recent Christmas she was bouncing her newest great-great grandson on her knee, with that familiar loving smile that she always showed to all of the kids.

LaVern loved to travel, she and Kenneth experienced trips to Australia, the mid-west and Canada. They also enjoyed traveling the Western States with their grandchildren. Later in her life, she traveled with her children and grandchildren. She took a cruise to Alaska with Harold and Karen, they also shared a trip to Leavenworth and Seattle which included Carolyn. She spent her 83rd birthday taking her first trip to Disneyland with Donna, Doll and their families. Over the past few years she was able to take her grandchildren trips, where she and Donna traveled to each of their homes and enjoyed a few days of family time with each of them.

She is loved and missed by her children:

Carolyn and Wayne Jarvis, Harold and Karen Kunkler, Doll and Randy Horner.

Her grandchildren:

Donna and Duane Mullins, Kelly Jensen, Thressa and Tim Jarvis, Randy and Sarah Horner, Kristen & Tim Shattuck, Jeffrey and Brandy Horner, Andy and Stephanie Kunkler

Her great grandchildren and their families:

Dusty and Joelle McGrorty and their son Traxon, Tyler and Tabbitha McGrorty and their sons Tyson and Talon, Jake and Cody Mullins, Cole and Bailey Jensen, Bryan Tikkala and Katie Tarabochia, Kayla Tikkala and her son Tucker James, Justin Tikkala and Tawny Phillips, Brody Shattuck, Mandy DePaulo and Taylor Temple and their son Benson, Korbyn Horner, and Harrison and Lucia Kunkler.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter Saundra Horner in 1973.