May 21, 1944 - October 19, 2023
Lavada Joann Rowe, 79, of Scranton, KS, passed away in Topeka, Kansas, on October 19, 2023. Lavada was born on May 21, 1944, to Vincent Dennis and Grace Lavada (Bird) Simmons in Great Bend, Kansas. Lavada was raised in Larned, Kansas, and she was the second oldest child of nine children. Lavada attended elementary, middle, and high school in Larned.
After Lavada graduated from Larned High School in 1962, she studied nursing and nursing records at Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. Following nursing school, she continued her education at Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas. She started her first job in Topeka at the Kansas Bureau of Vital Statistics in 1967.
On October 31, 1967 Lavada met Dale Rowe in Topeka. Lavada and Dale married in 1968 and have lived in Scranton, Kansas, for over 55 years. They had three children: Patricia, Carolyn, and Matthew. Lavada dearly loved her children and she was actively involved in their education and lives. She was a great seamstress, gardener, and cook. After raising her children, Lavada became a paraeducator. She was also a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Scranton, Kansas.
Lavada was predeceased in death by her parents and her brothers Patrick Simmons and Michael Simmons. She is survived by her husband, Dale of Scranton, KS, and her children, Paticia Rowe of Topeka, KS, Carolyn (Jeff) Boyer of Hoyt, KS, and Matthew (Amanda) Rowe of Carbondale, KS. Lavada has five grandchildren: Abigail Rowe, Ashlynn Rowe, Ava Rowe, Caleb Boyer, and Joie Boyer.