Laverta W. Ackerman, 82, Lawrence, formerly of Savonburg, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence.

She was born on June 30, 1929, in Rogers, Ark., the daughter of Gullis Despain and Lennie Wyse Despain Hayes. She graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif.

Laverta was united in marriage to Bob Ackerman on March 7, 1950, in Richmond, Calif., and began her life as a devoted military wife, mother, and volunteer, moving her family around the globe serving in many capacities including Wives Club President, Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, PTA President, Room Mother, Red Cross Volunteer, Chaplain’s Aid, Thrift Shop Volunteer and Youth Center Volunteer before retiring with Bob to Savonburg in 1973. He preceded her in death on Jan. 3, 1995.

She was a clerk at the U.S. Post Office in Savonburg for many years. Laverta also worked for the Kunkel Funeral Home and later for the Feuerborn Funeral Home in Moran.

Laverta was an active member in many civic, fraternal and social organizations including Order of the Eastern Star: Sunflower Chapter 147, Chanute; Daughters of the Nile, Azrim Temple No. 81, Pittsburg, Kansas; and Red Hats Society.

Laverta was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, Jack Hayes, a daughter-in-law, Mary Ackerman, a sister-in-law, Joan Foote, brother-in-law, Bill Foote, and nephew, Wayne Foote.

She is survived by her son Ronald Ackerman and wife, Jackie, of Vian, Okla., daughter Marcia Ackerman Devlin and husband, Dan, Lawrence; three grandchildren, Sarah Ackerman-Hale and husband, Andy, Spring Hill, Oliver Devlin and Laura Devlin, Lawrence; one great-granddaughter, Mary Kate Hale, Spring Hill; two sisters-in-law, Carol White and husband, Wendill, Pinole, Calif., and Mary Hayes, Omaha, Neb.; four nephews and one niece, Dennis Foote, Marty Foote, John Hayes, David Hayes, Nicole Wilbur; and four grand-nieces and nephews Jenny Hayes Maytum, Stevie Hayes, Matthew Wilbur and Jessica Wilbur.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Moran. Interment will follow in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Savonburg. The family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or to The Diabetes Association or to Eastern Star, Sunflower Chapter 147 and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 344 N. Cedar, Moran, Kansas 66755. You may send condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.