Mary Laveta (Adams) McCravy, left this world on the afternoon of July 14, 2022. She had been patiently waiting to join her beloved husband, Ronald, at heaven’s gate. She had attained the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 21 days before passing.
Mary Laveta was born to Arthur J. and Mary Anna (Taylor) Adams on December 22, 1935, in Mexico, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Ronald Mabry McCravy on December 29, 1958, and they were blessed with two children Mary Dawn and Ian Keith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald, and sisters-in-law, Orbell McCravy and Joyce Marie Adams Counts.
Mary Laveta is survived by her children, Mary Dawn (McCravy) Stewart of Mountain View, MO, and Ian Keith McCravy and wife, Tina of O’Fallon, MO; two brothers, Charles Wayne Adams and wife, Karen of Booneville, MO, and James Wesley Adams; three grandchildren, Mary Anthea McCravy, Random Jordan McCravy, and Tessa Marie McCravy; beloved grandson-in-law, Paul Joseph Adam; two great-grandchildren, Michael Joseph Adam and Krista Grace Adam; and many, much-loved, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends as well.
Mary Laveta had a great passion for life and lived a full, rich life. Very early in life, she pursued her love of art. Her first large wall mural was painted (at the age of 12) on her brother’s bedroom wall while her parents went to town for the day. It was a western mural because her brother wanted to be a cowboy. (By the way, her brother did become a cowboy). As she grew, she also found that along with art, she loved teaching children. She graduated from high school, at the age of 17, in Mexico Missouri, and studied to take the state teachers test so she could teach in a one-room school house. She taught for two years and then went to work on her formal education. She attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, for two years, obtaining her associate’s degree in general studies. She returned home to Mexico to assist her family and met Ronald McCravy at the Friendship Baptist Church. She was 21, and he was 24. They were in the lobby of the church when he winked at her and being flustered, she almost fell down the stairs. However, love appeared, and they were married six weeks later, on December 29, 1956. This union lasted 57 years.
Two children were born to this union. Mary Dawn was born in December 1958, and Ian Keith was born in November 1960. Mary Laveta continued teaching in Rocheport, Missouri, grades 3-6, while still working on her formal education. Her formal education spanned out for over 20 years, but upon completion, she had gained the following from the University of Missouri: BA in Education, BA in Art, BA in Business Management, MA in Art, and MA in Education. She had acquired 384 hours above her degrees toward a doctoral dissertation. However, Mary Laveta did not submit a dissertation because she found out that if she gained her doctorate she would be put in administration and no longer be allowed to teach children.
Mary Laveta and Ronald taught square dance, line dance, and adult education over a 45-year period. They travel to Europe, and managed to visit 43 out of 50 of the United States. She was also a very accomplished and gifted artist who participated in gallery shows and workshops. Mary Laveta and Ronald moved to Mountain View, Missouri, in October 2004 thinking that they were actually retiring. They became heavily involved with the Mountain View Family Youth Center, the Red Hat Sassy Lassies, and teaching art to homeschool pods.
In the last few years of her life, Mary Laveta had to slow down and became the social butterfly of Mountain View Healthcare Nursing Home. But her love for people and her zest for life was not diminished. She loved Jesus, her family, and friends without measure. She enriched many lives and gave many the courage to live a life.
A “Going Home” service will be held by the family at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at The Community Center, 125 E. 1st Street, Mountain View, Missouri. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30-11:30 a.m., also at the community center. Dinner will follow immediately after the service. Cremation arrangements were made under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermorturary.com
