Lavona C. Wooden died Jan 31, 1997 at Star Valley Hospital.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb 4, 1997 at the Afton LDS Tabernacle, conducted by Bishop Clyde Rainey, Afton 2nd Ward. Burial was in the Afton Cemetery next to her husband H.E. (Hank) Wooden.
Lavona was born in Hanna, WY Jan 10, 1915 to Winfred and Clara Ross Groutage, the fourth of nine children. Her father Winfred was the presiding bishop of the Hanna Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her parents instilled the principles of the gospel in her at an early age and she shared their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ that carried with her through her life. Her father was a talented musician and Lavona inherited this talent, playing saxophone in junior and senior high schools and later in the Rock Springs Community Band.
Lavona attended first and second grades in Hanna Elementary School. The family moved to Superior, WY briefly where she attended third grade. The family then relocated in Winton, WY where she went form the fourth grade through the eighth grades and grades nine through 12 at Reliance WY High School, where she graduated in the spring of 1932. She loved music as her father did and encouraged her sons to develop their given talents, which is carried on from her sons to the great grandchildren today.
After graduation from high school, Lavona worked in the Winton Department store and it was there that she met Henry "Hank" Earl Wooden, her future husband, Hank and Lavona were married June 5, 1938 in Salt Lake City. They made their home in Rock Springs where sons, Ron, Denn, Melvin and Ralph were born.
They moved to Star Valley in August of 1948 and bought their first home in Afton at the corner of Fourth and Madison where their fifth child Brent was born. Lavona took care of the rearing of the boys as Hank was driving truck to provide for the family. In August of 1952, Lavona and her baby son Brent were critically injured in an auto accident that required months of hospitalization and she fought valiantly to overcome her injuries. Then in 1957 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and given six months to live. Her faith in God and will to live, tied with the dedication to her family, allowed her to survive her injuries and her illness. Having raised her sons, she was very proud of each of them equally for their individual achievements and this pride extended to the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Hank was stricken with MS in the mid '60s and it became necessary for them to move in 1972 to Ogden to be closer to the medical facilities and family members.
Hank died Aug 17, 1974 in Ogden. Lavona was an Avon representative for many years in Afton and worked at the Polaris Snowmobile Assembly Plant in Afton from 1969 through 1971. After moving to Ogden, she became a nutrition aide for the Utah State University and retired from this service in 1983. During her life she was a member of the Afton Bridge Club, president of the Homemakers Club and was a member of the Literary Club of Afton and a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers serving as captain, first vice president and historian. She had a special talent for writing and served as the local correspondent for the Rock Springs Rocket Miner and the Star Valley Independent.
In March of 1993 she sold her Ogden home and moved to Star Valley. In late July of 1996 she was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Her condition steadily worsened and she became hospitalized in mid October where she remained until her death.
She was a special lady with a lot of pride, ample love, strong will and determination and a keen sense of awareness of the beauty around her. she was a devoted wife and mother and held her friends in the highest esteem.
She is survived by her sons, Ronald I. Wooden of Ogden; Donn H. Wooden of Alpine, WY; Melvin J. Wooden of Alpine UT; Ralph W. Wooden of Cowpens, SC; sister Edith Lucille Moore of Concord CA; brother Clarence L. Groutage of Rock Springs; 19 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, six brothers and two great grandchildren.

Wooden, Lavona C (31 Jan 1997)Star Valley Independent

Clara Lavona Groutage is the daughter of Winfred Henry Groutage / Clara Ross
Clara Lavona GROUTAGE married Henry Earl WOODEN
05 JUN 1938 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah