of Hensley, AR

August 22, 1947 - April 7, 2025

Lavern Emerson, age 77, went to be with her Savior on Monday, April 7, 2025. She was born August 22, 1947, in Nogo, Arkansas to Loyd Harmon and Carrie Walker Harmon. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Cabot, Arkansas. Lavern resided in Hensley, Arkansas for the last 25 years of her life.

Lavern graduated from Alread High School in 1965 and regularly boasted the title Valedictorian of her class of 7. This is where she met the love of her life, Steve Emerson. The pair went on to marry and have two sons, Michael and Jamey Emerson. They lived their life together in Cabot, Arkansas until Steve's passing. While the boys were young, she dedicated her life to being their mom, never missing a ballgame or any other event in their lives. As her boys grew up, Lavern attended Southern Technical College, where she earned a degree in Computer Programming. Once again, she was co-valedictorian of her class. She went on to work for the Arkansas Student Loan Guarantee Foundation and SF Services, eventually retiring from Arkansas Farm Bureau after 18 years with the company. As she loved her boys, Lavern took their wives, Kara and Jessica, as her daughters and loved them as her own. She was also a grandma and great grandma. If you knew Lavern for 5 minutes, you knew about her grandkids. She loved us all so well.

Lavern was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 30 years, Steve Emerson; her parents, Loyd and Carrie Harmon; sister, Fern Emerson; her special brothers-in-law, Bryce Emerson and Clarence Philips; and one grandson, Joshua Gray Emerson.

Left to cherish her memory are her dear sister and best friend, Viva Philips of Clinton; her sons and daughters-in-law: Michael and Kara Emerson of Russellville and Jamey and Jessica Emerson of Cabot; 7 grandchildren: Eve, Elizabeth, Samuel, Lydia, Rebekah, Sarah, and Levi Emerson of Russellville; one great-grandson: Christopher Kendrick of Russellville and one great-grandson joining the family this summer. She will also be greatly missed by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

The sum of Lavern's life can't be calculated by the computer programs she wrote but by the relationships she built, the friends she made EVERYWHERE she went, and the lives she touched. She was an encourager who always sought to make people laugh, brighten their day, and point them to Jesus. Words cannot express the difference she made in the lives of those who knew her. She will be forever missed.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 11, 2025, from 5;00 p.m. -7 ;00 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church in Clinton. The Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Clinton. Interment at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Rupert. Funeral services for Lavern are under the direction of Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons International in her name. https://www.gideons.org/donate

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
Highway 65 South
Clinton, AR  72031
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com