Vera LaVonne (Gnagy) Davis Oliver

May 19, 1934 – June 17, 2019

for 27 years. She only left (at age 83) when she could no longer easily travel to and from work. LaVonne was a musician, singer, and organist/pianist. She frequently sang and accompanied church services in her youth. A highlight of her early musical career was accompanying Johnny Mathis while attending San Francisco State University. In later years she continued to serve her church communities as organist, accompanist, and choir director. Her daughters often joined her and they performed as a vocal trio. During the 1990s LaVonne and her daughters were the music team at Unity of Fremont: LaVonne was the pianist, Joan was the choir director, and Lauri was the song leader. LaVonne spent many years participating and serving in Al-Anon. She supported her local chapter, served as a sponsor, and spoke at many conferences.

Her hobbies included playing the organ and piano, knitting, crocheting, and she was an avid reader. LaVonne was also a passionate, lifelong NFL and college football fan. As a child, she attended her brother’s football games with her father, where he satisfied her endless questions about the game. She loved her San Francisco 49ers and proudly claimed to be 49er Faithful from the very beginning. She was also a technologically up-to-date woman who used an iPhone, an iPad, and a Kindle.

In addition to LaVonne’s mother and father, her siblings all pre-deceased her: Florine Wise, Eugene Gnagy, Dillon Gnagy, and Nita Hodapp; also, two of Eugene’s daughters, Janet and Becky, passed away from cancer.

She is survived by her daughter Lauri (Steve) Falabella of Livermore, California, and her two grandsons, Andrew and Nicolas Falabella; her daughter Joan Davis (Dana Bush) of Dublin, California; 13 nieces and nephews living in California, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Washington; and Joe Oliver’s children and grandchildren.

LaVonne’s ashes will be interred at Orange Township Cemetery in South Waterloo, Iowa, beside her parents.

In loving memory of LaVonne, please join us for a Celebration of her Life and Music on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2pm at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue in Livermore, California. There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Hall.

The family is so grateful for the exemplary service, care, and support Mom received from Hope Hospice. Should friends desire to make a memorial contribution, we offer the suggestion of a donation in LaVonne’s name to: Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Avenue, Suite 100, Dublin, CA 94568-3024.