Austa Laverne Chisum

Austa Laverne (Hamby) Chisum was born August 3, 1933 in Calipat, California to Vernon and Austa Hamby. Laverne grew up with her sister, Marilyn, who was 16 months older.  They were often mistaken as twins, especially after her twin sisters, Deanie and Jeanie, were born when she was eleven years old. While attending the Westmorland Church as a young teenager, Laverne met the love of her life, James. She graduated valedictorian of Brawley High School in 1951 and two weeks later married her 17 year old sweetheart, James. To this union five children were born: Rodney, Kenny, Denny, Jeanne and Brad. 

In 1966 the family moved from California to Missouri where they purchased a dairy farm. Laverne was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, flying with her husband and caring for her family. In 1978 they moved to Idaho, then Utah and then returned to Missouri in 1999.

Her husband, James Chisum, her parents and her sister Marilyn, were there to greet her as she walked through the gates of heaven, leaving her sons and daughter here to rejoice in her home going.

Those rejoicing are her sons: Rodney Chisum and wife Doralee, Bella Vista, AR, Kenny Chisum and wife Connie, Valley View, TX, Denny Chisum and wife Roxy,  Marshfield, MO,  Brad Chisum and wife Marci, Niangua, MO; her daughter Jeanne Wilson and husband Rick, Fairbury, IL; thirteen grandchildren: Brian Chisum and wife Kara, Jana Greenfield and husband David, Ben Chisum, Tara McBride and husband Rodney, Brock Chisum and wife Nicole, Julie Chisum, Zac Chisum and wife Larrissa, Anthony Wilson, Janessa Guzman and husband Jeremy, Jullian Wilson, Emily Chisum, Sadie Chisum, and Khloe Wilson;19 great grandchildren; sisters, Deanie Haldorsen, Mattoon, IL, Jeanie Harris and husband Ron, Emmett, ID; sister-in-law Cloma Chisum Brewer and husband Jim, Fredericksburg, TX and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 7, 2017, at Marshfield Cemetery under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 7.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Convoy of Hope.