La Verne B. Burton

La Verne Bolding Burton, native of De Queen, and long-time resident of Hot Springs, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018.

La Verne is preceded in death by her husband, Ben Burton; beloved first-born daughter, Boni Catherine Burton; and her great-granddaughter, Ella Jane Fullenwider.

La Verne is survived by her children, Bruce Bolding Burton (Patti), of Tulsa, Okla., Brooks Franklin Burton (Susan), of Hot Springs, and Bevalee Vitali (Michael), of Memphis; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A beauty queen and straight-A student in high school and college, La Verne earned an Associate’s Degree at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) and a Bachelor’s degree at University of Central Arkansas (UCA). She taught home economics for several years before becoming an award-winning science teacher. SAU honored La Verne with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.

A lifetime Methodist, La Verne served First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs as Christian Education director and was a voting delegate in several state and regional Methodist Church conferences and one historic General Conference. She, along with her husband Ben, also served in VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), spending a year in Alaska helping adults earn their GEDs.

A 25-year liver transplant survivor, marathon runner and avid hiker, La Verne also loved to create. She spent many hours knitting, sewing and painting. She created all the artwork for husband Ben’s second book, “A Father’s Song.” Some of her artwork is displayed at The Caring Place and First Methodist Church in Hot Springs.

A celebration of La Verne’s life and loves will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Caring Place (http://www.thecaringplacehotsprings.com).

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, Hot Springs.

Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.