Lorene Lavender

Amelia Lorene Lavender (born Daisy Lorene), known to all who loved her as Lorene, passed away on April 26, 2026, in Renton, Washington, at the age of 93, following a stroke and multiple organ failure. Born on April 6, 1933, in rural Ochelata near Ramona, Oklahoma, Lorene lived a life marked by resilience, warmth, and an unwavering devotion to the people she loved most.

Lorene's greatest joy was her family. Her face lit up every time she saw her sons, and she was happiest sitting around the table with them, their wives, and her many grandchildren, sharing meals she had prepared with the skill of an excellent cook and baker. She overcame tremendous hardships throughout her life, including Lupus, the heartbreaking loss of a stillborn daughter, and the challenges that came with raising her family. Through it all, she carried herself with grace, always taking pride in her appearance.

Lorene loved shopping, with a particular enthusiasm for vacuum cleaners that worked and fashion that fit. She spent her quieter hours reading Western romance novels, tending to her garden, and caring for her many beloved pets. She was a cherished neighbor and a longtime member of the Sumner, Washington ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through which she faithfully served as a witness at the Seattle temple. Her deep belief in the Prophet and her devotion to her faith sustained her through every season of life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack W. Lavender; her son, Michael J. Lavender; her brother, Dr. W. Gene McCollough; and her sister, Marjorie Helen McCollough Work. She is survived by her sons, Steven Gene Lavender and wife Maryann, and Richard Allen Lavender and wife Shanon, and her sister, Mary Jo McCollough Spencer, along with 5 grandchildren.

Lorene will be laid to rest in the Sumner Cemetery in Puyallup, Washington.

For decades, Lorene carried a newspaper clipping in her purse that read: "I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. Not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps this is what being a friend means, after all." Memorial donations may be made to Love Hope Strength Foundation working to support cancer research and patient care centers.