Beehive Community Spotlight: LaVon Brook
Every community has people in it that Payson High School, and that’s where she After graduating from high school, LaVon make it great. I’m talking about salt-of- met her future husband, Neil L. Brook. and Neil were married in 1954. Neil the-earth kinda people. Join us as each Neil was on the football team and very was a great plumber and after a few years month as we highlight one of our longtime popular. LaVon was very quiet and kept to of school and training became a certified members in the community. herself. “We were really completely opposite. master plumber and pipe fitter. He was recruited
LaVon Brook was born in Fillmore, I was so shy and timid, and he was so by Geneva Pipe and worked there Utah, in 1935 at her grandmothers’ home outgoing and popular,” LaVon said. One for many years. LaVon gave birth to four — in fact, she was born in her grandmother’s day, she and her friends were walking children; Carol, Audie, Leon and David. bed. Her family did not stay long home from school when a group of boys After 26 years of marriage, tragedy would in Fillmore. LaVon’s father Robert A. Tilby, drove up and offered them a ride. strike the Brook family. Neil was killed in her mother Eula and older brother Carl LaVon’s immediate reaction was no an automobile accident, leaving his four moved to Baker, Nevada, where Robert way — after all, she was very prim and children and wife behind. He was 48 years worked for the railroad. Her mother cared proper and having some strange boys give old. LaVon still had two children at home for the children and kept the large property her a ride home was not appropriate. Before and was working at the Payson hospital as up. “We had several chickens, and I she could say a word, her girlfriend a nurse. She was devastated and took two loved playing with them. I used to pick jumped in the boys’ back seat and urged weeks off work. “I was a mess, I couldn’t ‘em up and just carry them around the the other girls to do the same. LaVon was do anything without breaking down into yard. I also tended rabbits — I mean we silent for the entire drive while her friend tears. I finally realized I had to shape up were watching one of my dad’s friend’s hung over the front seat talking and flirting and fly right. I had kids to support and rabbits. We kept them in a large pen for with the boys. LaVon was dropped Neil wouldn’t want me to not live my several weeks - I think there were about off last and one of the boys asked if he life,” LaVon said. 500 of them. It was so fun to see them could visit her sometime. She turned red LaVon worked at the Payson hospital, running everywhere,” LaVon said. with embarrassment and mumbled something where she was instrumental in the move
While they were living in Nevada, LaVon’s to the affirmative. That boy would to the new hospital on State Road. She sister Dawn was born, and shortly visit again and again - thus began the high worked every department and was well after her birth the family moved back to school sweethearts LaVon and Neil. Later, known as the “count on” employee. This Utah. Robert began raising a large herd of LaVon’s children would make fun of her, shy humble farm girl touched so many cattle in the Goshen area. Lavon attended calling her “the pick up girl.” hearts while caring for people at the hospital. She worked the night shift for 28 years before retiring from the Payson hospital. If you have ever been to the hospital, you were likely cared for by LaVon.
Lavon lives at Beehive Homes of Payson Assisted Living enjoying the quiet life and remembering the days of raising kids and riding horses on the farm. She has 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Thank you, LaVon Brook, for raising such great kids and being a member of our community. You may contact LaVon Brook by mail at 661 E. 700 South, Payson, UT 84651.