Obituary LaVerna J. Conrad Born November 28, 1925, in Auburn, Washington. Passed away June 3, 2018, in Federal Way, Washington. A 1944 graduate of Auburn High School, LaVerna married Richard Conrad on February 17, 1950, at her parents' home in Enumclaw. The newlyweds moved to their home on 15th Avenue in Milton, where they spent 60 years together raising four children and entertaining a myriad of family and friends at the park like grounds surrounding their historic farmhouse. Even before beginning elementary school, LaVerna was deeply connected to the written word. She listened to the local librarians read at story hour, while soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells of the place, and she made her own books and stitched them together with needle and thread. Her earliest memories revolved around writing and reading, and for nearly nine decades she dedicated herself to the passionate pursuit of writing. LaVerna had a varied and diverse work history ranging from making dinner for her turkey-farmer neighbors, to being a telephone operator, to cataloging and classifying books and materials for the local school district where she learned how to put the essence of a 400-page book on a 3 by 5 card. After Richard passed away in early 2010, LaVerna chose to stay in her home for six more years. During that time she was lovingly known as ""the sheep lady"" for her dedicated tending of sheep, and as ""the apple lady"" for sharing the apple harvest with those in need. In the fall of 2015 she moved into Mill Ridge Village, where she continued to write and entertain friends and family, publishing her latest book, Some Days are Diamonds, Some are Prune Pits to rave reviews. LaVerna was a longtime member of Mission Woods (Fife Presbyterian) Church and Pacific Northwest Writer's Association. She was preceded in death by her parents, Allyn and Doreen O'Neill, and her sisters Margaret Campbell, Velva Smith, and Alda Reed. She is survived by her children, Anna Marie (Kirk) Goldsworthy, Michael (Vikki) Conrad, Karen Conrad, and Kay (Nelson) Murray. LaVerna has seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A visitation was held from Noon to 8:00 PM Monday, June 11, 2018, at Price-Helton Funeral Home in Auburn, Washington. Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 12, at 11:00 AM at Price Helton Funeral Home, graveside service followed at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn. Reception was held at Mission Woods Church, Milton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tacoma Rescue Mission or Planned Parenthood.