Juanita Lavon Gaff

Juanita Lavon Gaff, 102, of Columbia City, Ind., went to be with her Savior at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Miller's Merry Manor. Born December 10, 1916 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Ervin D. and Ida (Wilson) Decker.

Her former years were spent in Whitley County. She completed her education at Churubusco High School. On Saturday, the fifteenth day of September 1934, she was united in marriage to J. Lincoln Gaff at the Parsonage of Rev. Marian Shroyer in Churubusco in a double ceremony with Homer Owen and Sarah Alice Gaff. She lived in Green Township most of her married life and helped her husband farm. She worked for Lyall Electric in Albion for 14 years and Super Value Grocery Store in Churubusco. She also worked for Walmart in Columbia City and retired in in 1985. Her husband passed away on December 24, 1989. She was active and volunteered at the Whitley County Woodland Senior Center, where she had been voted a queen one year. She was a member of Tri-Lakes Baptist Church and Charter Oak Community Church.

In addition to her husband's death, she was also preceded in death by her sons, J. L. Gaff and Jon Lynn Gaff; grandson, Joseph Gaff; and four sisters, Freeda Walher, Verna King, Hazel Pflueger and Pearl Mitchell. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Retta Belle Gaff, of Albion; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will begin at 2p.m. with Pastor Jerry Burghduff officiating. Burial will follow at Christian Chapel Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the Woodland Senior Center or Tri Lakes Baptist Church. www.DeMoneyGrimes.com