Lavon Irene Tait, 82, a resident of Carroll for the past four years, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at the Carroll Health Center Nursing Home.

Born on Jan. 10, 1932, to Fred and Ethel Godfredson, Lavon grew up in Austin, Minnesota, where she was assistant to her father in his business – the R&F Bike Shop. She graduated from Austin high school and was employed at Hormel Foods. There she met Keith Tait, her loving husband of 62 years. She and Keith lived in Sherburn, Minnesota, Pella, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, and Mesa, Arizona, before returning to Carroll to be close to their son Tom Tait.

Lonnie was the loving mother of three sons and spent every waking hour making a wonderful home for her family. Her houses were always spotless and the meals big and delicious. She took up golf in middle age and proved to be a natural, earning five hole-in-one trophies and regularly outplaying the rest of her family. Her six grandchildren were her greatest joys and often the beneficiaries of her tremendous kindness and generosity. Baptized and married in Austin’s Lutheran Church, she attended the Lutheran Church for most of her life with her last membership at Peace Lutheran Church in Glidden. Lonnie’s generosity and energy were felt throughout the communities she lived in. Her parties were a “can’t miss” on social calendars. She was a wonderful friend, wife, sister, mother and grandmother.

Surviving are her husband Keith of Carroll; three sons: Steve Tait and his wife Cea of Salida, Colorado, Bruce Tait and his wife Patty of Woodbury, Minnesota, and Tom Tait and his wife Chris of Carroll. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Jon, James, Lyndsey, Nathaniel, Nicole, and Jeffery; and two sisters: Donna Barnett, and Mary Lou Kelly, both of Austin, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and an older brother Russell.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2014, at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll with Pastor Alan Miller of Peace Lutheran Church in Carroll officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. on Saturday until the time of service. Organist for the service will be Becky Miller. A reception will follow the service at Sunny Brook Assisted Living in Carroll. Burial will be in the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.