Lavina Loys Fry was born in Clayton, New Mexico, on July 17, 1935, to Elvin and Faree (Chiles) Fones. She passed away June 5, 2023, at Union County General Hospital after a short illness. She was 87 years old. Lavina lived her entire life on her family’s land near the Seneca community.

Lavina grew up on land homesteaded by her grandparents and later purchased by her parents in the Seneca area. She attended Seneca Primary School through 8th grade. She finished her education at Clayton High School, graduating in 1953 as salutatorian. Lavina met Alton Fry while attending high school. They were married January 16, 1954, in Raton, New Mexico. They were married 64 years before Alton passed away in June 2018. To their union was born Barbara, Gail and Larry.

Lavina was a homemaker and a farmer’s wife, working hard on the farm and in her home. She was a talented artist and gardener. Her flower gardens were beautiful each summer. She especially loved sitting next to her small pond to watch the fish. Lavina enjoyed china painting, oil painting, watercolor and ink, and in her later years colored pencil drawings. She sewed clothing for her family for many years and crocheted many beautiful items.

Lavina was baptized in the First Baptist Church in Clayton as a young girl. She was very involved with her church work. She taught Sunday School to adults and music to children. Alton and Lavina went on many church trips with their children to Glorieta and Angel Fire. She was a skilled organist playing at church for 53 years.

Lavina was preceded in death by her parents, Elvin and Faree Fones; her in-laws, Ruth and Eugene Fry; her sisters and their husbands, Bibian and Hal Mock and Vivian and Virgil Mock.

Surviving children are Barbara Rhea, Terry and Gail Swallow, and Larry Fry. Lavina had three grandchildren that she loved dearly, Calvin McCulley, Adam Swallow and Dustin and Tasha Swallow. She also had four great-grandchildren, Laynie, Landry, Laeson and Londyn Swallow. Also, surviving Lavina is her special sister, Vera.

Lavina leaves behind many special friends and relatives, too many to name. She told us many times that she lived a good life and had a good family that she loved. She knew she was going to heaven and couldn’t wait to get there to see Jesus and Alton.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Clayton, New Mexico, with Pastor Terrell Jones of the Trinity Fellowship Church in Clayton, officiating.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

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