LaVerne Whitehead (Gray), of McKinleyville, passed away on August 3rd, 2019. She was 95 years old.

LaVerne was born on September 11th, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Illinois, and moved to California with her family when she was four years old. 

LaVerne married William Whitehead in 1944, and raised four children in Sacramento, where she was an elementary school teacher, before moving to Hoopa in 1969. There, she taught at Hoopa Valley Elementary School, a position which brought her great pride.

One of LaVerne’s greatest passions was music, which she shared with others through years of directing handbell choirs. Beginning in Hoopa in 1972 and eventually in Arcata and McKinleyville until 2013, LaVerne directed the North Coast Handbell Choir, conducting dozens of concerts at weddings, Christmas pageants, and church services around Humboldt County.

LaVerne was also very active in the North Coast Scottish Society, serving as chieftain from 2004 to 2005. She and William also participated in Scottish country dancing with the organization in the 1990’s.

LaVerne is survived by her sons, Laurence (Marybeth), Robert, and Richard, her daughter Becky, her grandson William, nieces and nephews Mary, Ken, Alison, Billy, and Sally, and sister-in-law Ann. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Whitehead, parents, William Earl Gray and Carrie Eva Duty, and brother, Robert Earl Gray.

A celebration of life will be hosted on September 14th. For information contact Becky, 707-839-3814, and leave a message.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of LaVerne’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.