Born January 5, 1918 in Des Moines, IA, the son of Horace T. Lavely and Gertrude H. Lavely. He attended Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, where he was named to the 1938 Small College All-American Football Team. He received his AB degree in 1939. He received his MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943. After interning at the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA, he entered the US Army Medical Corps in January 1944. He served as a Battalion Surgeon in WWII with the 17th Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 82nd Airborne Division. He received the Bronze Star for bravery. He was discharged in March, 1946 with the rank of Major. In September 1946, he became associated with Dr. John C. Burch in the practice of Surgery and Gynecology. He entered the practice of Gynecology in 1957, which he continued until his retirement in June, 1987. He held the rank of Assistant Clinical Professor of Gynecology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and was active in the teaching programs at Vanderbilt, St. Thomas, Baptist, and Nashville General Hospitals. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Tennessee OB/GYN Society, Nashville OB/GYN Society, Nashville Surgical Society, and the Nashville Academy of Medicine. He served as President of the Nashville Surgical Society in 1972, as President of the Nashville OB/GYN society in 1973, and as President of the staff of Mid-State Baptist Hospital in 1979. He was a charter member of the Hillwood Country Club. Following his retirement, he served as Medical Consultant to the Tennessee Disability Determination Section of the Social Security Administration, where he was named Medical Consultant of The Year in 1990. His hobbies included golf (he made 6 holes-in-one), tennis, photography, dancing, birding and reading. Dr. Lavely was married to the former Gail Baker in 1943. They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his wife; children, Kaaren Riker of Houston, TX, Gretchen West and husband Dr. James C. West, Jr. of Lawrence, KS, and Tina Kraft of Nashville; seven grandchildren, Derek Riker, Ethan Riker and wife Lisa, Jessica Jungk and husband John, Cully West, Abigail West, Elizabeth Bleecker and husband Bryan, Rachel Johnson and husband Treye; and nine great-grandchildren. Dr. Lavely donated his body to the Vanderbilt University Medical School. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at Hillwood Country Club, from 2- 4 p.m. Memorial gifts may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank or Nashville Rescue Mission. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.