LaVaun Smith Ficklin completed her mortal journey on May 24, 2024 from natural causes.

LaVaun was born on April 22, 1942 in Ogden, Utah to Ellis George and Fay Anderson Smith. She was the third of their four children. She had an eventful childhood, as her father worked as an ammunition inspector for the U.S. military and was transferred frequently all over the United States. LaVaun lived in Ogden; Herlong, California; Anchorage Alaska; Romulus, New York; and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Because of these frequent moves, LaVaun learned to make friends quickly. She was elected Graduation Queen (jr. high) and freshman class treasurer in Alaska, Color Day Princess in Chambersburg, and student body vice-president in Ogden even after having attended school there only a few months. She received a scholarship to BYU and participated in student government there as well, serving as president of the Freshman Associated Women Students Council.

It was at BYU where LaVaun met and began dating Perry Ficklin. They dated for a few weeks, then broke up. They ran into each other again in Ogden while LaVaun was shopping, and they began dating again. They were later sealed in the Logan Temple on March 15, 1963.

Throughout the next two decades, they welcomed their seven beloved children into their family. Because LaVaun experienced several miscarriages and other health issues, the children were spread out over a longer period of time than they had planned. Felicia, Natalie, Emily, and Sara were born while LaVaun and Perry lived in Salt Lake City, then Elizabeth was born while the family lived in Heber City, and Reuben and Andrew completed our family after we had moved to Orem. LaVaun's greatest joy was being a mother and a homemaker. She made most of our clothes, cooked delicious meals, and worked hard to make our home beautiful, comfortable, and filled with love. Perry once said that he could never remarry if something happened to LaVaun because "you can't top perfection."

The gospel of Jesus Christ was the most important thing in LaVaun's life. It was her first priority in finding a mate. When LaVaun was young, her parents weren't attending church often, so LaVaun sought baptism by herself and was baptized at age nine. She had a desire to spread her joy in the gospel with others. She shared her testimony and a Book of Mormon with a dear friend in Chambersburg, and was blessed to be involved with her friend and the entire family's conversion and baptism. She was diligent in teaching her children about Jesus Christ and we regularly had weekly family home evening and daily family scripture study. Throughout their marriage, Perry was called to many leadership positions, leaving LaVaun to get the children ready for church and to sit with them alone. She never complained about Perry's church service, and she herself served faithfully in every calling that she received.

In 1984, Perry and LaVaun were called as mission presidents of the Portugal Lisbon mission. They served faithfully for three years with their large family. LaVaun was also a mother to all of the missionaries who served in the mission. She was also a missionary herself, being miraculously instrumental in the conversion of many of the Portuguese people, including a woman she met in the hospital during there first month in Portugal. She received the gift of tongues enough to bear her testimony about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. That woman and her entire family were taught by the missionaries and baptized.

A few years later, Perry and LaVaun were called as counselors in the Johannesburg South Africa mission, with a special assignment to prepare the Portuguese-speaking countries of Angola and Mozambique to become missions themselves. They lived in Mozambique and served the people, members, and missionaries of Mozambique and Angola with love and dedication. LaVaun developed a friendship with a woman there who named her newborn baby "LaVaun" because of the love LaVaun showed to her and her family. Unfortunately the woman and her entire family, including baby LaVaun, died from malaria while Perry and LaVaun were still there. However, despite experiencing sorrows such as these in the mission, LaVaun never tired of helping the Mozambican people, especially the street children and those at the orphanages.

During her later years, LaVaun experienced several health challenges. She experienced grave head injuries from two serious falls, and we almost lost her both times. But she endured for her family. She was deeply affected by the loss of her beloved husband Perry in 2021, and struggled because she couldn't live the active life she once had. However, despite these challenges, LaVaun grew more loving to everyone who visited her, and especially to her dear nurses and caretakers at Spring Gardens Assisted Living Center. We will never be able to thank them enough for the loving care they gave to LaVaun, as did her daughters, Natalie and Elizabeth.

and Perry are the parents of seven children: Felicia (Plinio) Pimentel; Natalie Ficklin-Holiday; Emily (Keith) Crofts; Sara (David) Robertson; Elizabeth Ficklin; Reuben (Alice) Ficklin; and Andrew Ficklin. They also have 17 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

LaVaun is survived by her seven children, 17 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, and her beloved sister Rosanne Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gene Smith, and her sister Carma Wood. We know that she is enjoying a wonderful reunion with Perry and the loved ones she cherished so much during her life.

We as a family are forever grateful for our wonderful Mama and all of the blessings we received because of her. She leaves an eternal legacy that has blessed all who knew and loved her. Thank you, Mama, for your wonderful example and love. We love you forever.

Funeral Services will be Friday, May 31, 2024, 12pm in the Northridge 2nd Ward, 1875 North 280 West, Orem. Family and friends may visit Thursday evening from 6-8pm at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, or Friday morning at the church from 10:30-11:30am. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem.

For those unable to attend the service, but would still like to participate, a webcast is available at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcxNzAyMjgyNTMxMTQ2OCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==