A Mass of Christian Burial for Laverne Claunch, 89, of Purcell was held Friday, February 12, 2021 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Purcell. Interment was at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mrs. Claunch passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at the Lexington Nursing Home.
Helen Laverne Shea was born July 29, 1931 in Purcell, Okla., one of nine children born to Daniel William Shea and Helen Edmae (Dumas) Shea. She was raised in the Purcell/Dibble area and attended Dibble Schools.
On June 2, 1950, Laverne married her best friend and life partner, Hershel Ray Claunch. They made their home in Purcell, where together they raised five children, sons, Danny Ray, David and Danny Jay and daughters, Sharon and Janet. Laverne’s greatest joy was her family, and she cherished being a wife, mother and eventually a grandmother and great grandmother.
She was a sweet soul, generous and kind, and a wise woman. Laverne loved having a good laugh and all things George Jones and she leaves a wonderful legacy for all who knew her. She was a woman of great faith and a longtime member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Purcell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hershel Ray Claunch; parents, Dan and Helen Shea; brothers, Ralph Shea and Bill Shea and sisters, Betty Smith and Dorothy Simeroth.
Laverne is survived by three sons, Danny Ray Claunch of Wayne, David Patrick Claunch of Purcell and Danny Jay Claunch of Wayne; two daughters, Sharon Kay Barton of Wayne and Janet Sue King of Wayne; two brothers, Bobby Joe Shea and wife, Gloria, of Purcell and Dan Shea of Lexington; two sisters, Linda Tippit and husband, Richard, of Oklahoma City and Ruby Whatley of Purcell; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be made at wilsonlittle.com.
