April 9, 1934 ~ February 2, 2019
Le Vona L. (Allen) Hubbard was born on the family farm April 9, 1934, Lake township, Attica (Harper County) Kansas. The family moved to Anthony in the latter forties and Le Vona graduated from Anthony High School with Salutatorian honors May 1952. She furthered her education at Kansas State University and graduated from a telecommunication school in Omaha, Nebraska, which opened a door for her to move to the east coast. In 1953, she passed a test that allowed her to choose a job in Washington D.C. with the military or Long Island, New York with Pam Am Airline communications. Her choice was Pan Am so she could send messages all over the world. She and three other women shared an apartment in New York City in 1953 and 1954.
She married the love of her life, Eugene Hubbard of Waterbury, Connecticut on January 5, 1955. Gene (Yogi) was in the Army on his way to Germany so she spent three months in Germany with him. Upon returning to the United States, she was employed by the Gripper Zipper Co of Waterbury. In August 1956 they had a daughter, Debbie. Le Vona returned to work but longed for Kansas. In 1961, the three moved to Anthony, Kansas as she felt their daughter needed to be raised in a small town instead of a large city. Le Vona worked for two attorneys, Donald Muir and Ronald Albright until 1981, when she opened her tax office.
In October of 1981, she rented an office from Starks Real Estate located at Main and Kansas Streets. She prepared income tax returns and worked as a Legal Assistant for a couple of attorneys. She saw clients during the day and prepared income tax returns during the evenings, nights and weekends. At that time, all returns were “typed” and mailed. After tax season she did bookkeeping and other paperwork her clients requested, as well as her night classes at Wichita State University.
In 1983, she outgrew the one-room office and purchased Denny’s Barber Shop. She, along with her husband’s carpentry talents, remodeled the building, which allowed her more room to grow. She purchased the building to the east so she could expand and add more employees. Debbie joined her in 1987. She was always improving herself through knowledge. She graduated from Wichita State University, one of the first four women to pass the Certified Legal Assistant test in the State of Kansas; passed her Enrolled Agent test and was licensed by the Internal Revenue Service; acquired her abstracting license; and was an avid oil and gas hobbyist through College classes, seminars and just plain experience. Although she left Anthony from 1952 to 1961, she remembered where her roots were and returned to make a difference in Anthony, Kansas.
With all her education and work, she knew family was most important. Her daughter married in 1974 adding Howard Hatfield to the family. Then in 1987, she was blessed with her first grandchild, Brian followed by a second, Lauren in 1993. Her family stayed in Anthony and she played a major role in raising her grandchildren. She rarely missed an event, was always there with her camera and could not wait until the next camping trip with her grandkids. Her life revolved around her husband, daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren. Her work was always done on “her” time, not family time. She was the definition of “burning the midnight oil”.
She always mentioned retiring and finally got the chance in May 2017, at the age of 83 due to health issues. She was diagnosed with cancer in February 2012 and fought long and hard to beat the odds of two years to live. She accomplished this with the help of an oncologist and medical staff second to none.
Le Vona passed away February 2, 2019 at the Anthony Hospital with her family by her side. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Yogi; daughter Debbie and her husband Howard (Hatfield); grandson, Brian Hatfield; granddaughter, Lauren Hatfield; and a number of cats she had to provide a home to.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to the Kingman County Humane Society, 1015 E. Highway 54, Kingman, Kansas, 67068; and the Anthony Community Care Center, 212 N. Fifth Street, Anthony, Kansas 67003; or Debbie would be happy to get a memorial to either.
A celebration of life and “the rest of the story” will be held 2:30 p.m. Monday May 27, 2019, Memorial Day at Forest Park Cemetery (Gazebo), South Santa Fe Road, Anthony, Kansas; and in case of rain, First Congregational Church, 202 N. Bluff, Anthony, Kansas, at 2:30 p.m.
Leave Condolences
Condolences
So sorry for your loss. My
Marcy Kastens - 02/05/2019
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
-
Our deepest sympathy to all
Johnny and Rita... - 02/06/2019
Our deepest sympathy to all of you. She was a good woman and will be missed.
-
I am so sorry for your loss!
Shelly Ireland - 02/06/2019
I am so sorry for your loss! Hugs to you all!!!
-
Such a lovely, gracious lady.
LouAnne Adams - 02/08/2019
Such a lovely, gracious lady...And a great downtown neighbor! Holding you all close in my thoughts during this difficult time. So many fond memories of all of you, each for your own reasons. Blessings to you all.
-
So sorry for your loss! Your
Gwen Warner - 05/17/2019
So sorry for your loss! Your mom was a wonderful woman and will be missed by many! Thinking of you and your family!
-
May 17, 2019
Debra Traxler - 05/17/2019
Debbie, I’m sorry for your loss. I knew when I met your mom, she was an unusual lady. I’m thankful to have known her briefly. You and your family are in my prayers.
-
Our thoughts are with you.
Toni McKee - 05/17/2019
Richard and I, along with our family, have been keeping all of you in our thoughts. Your mom was well-versed in everything that she did. She will certainly be missed in our community.
-
Your mom was a wonderful
Betty and Sandy... - 05/18/2019
Your mom was a wonderful woman. She will be missed. Prayers for you and your family.
-
Yogi , Debbie, and family,
Wilma Moore - 05/18/2019
Your family has been. In my thoughts and Prayers since I heard of LeVona’s passing. LeVona and I were friends
When I went to school in Anthony and I worked with Yogi for 23 years so we do make connections in life. I am
So sorry for your loss. Sincerely
Wilma
-
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Sheryll Marchand - 05/18/2019
I'm so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts & prayers.
-
So blessed to have known her.
Diane Headberg - 05/21/2019
So blessed to have known her. Always did so much for others especially two teenage girls trying to get through life in the 70's. The most awesome spagetthi you would ever eat. I'm sorry we won't be able to be there but will be thinking of all of you. May God bless you and keep you and make his light to shine upon you. The Headbergs
-
Debbie, your Mom was the
Diana Hill - 05/23/2019
Debbie, your Mom was the nicest person anyone could meet. Always had a smile on her face. Never saw her in a bad mood. Your Mom and Dad joking between each other. Remembering the fun times when coming to your home for ceramics. Trying to entertain ourselves on weekends in high school, wasting gas dragging Main Street.. Good old days. Seems so long ago. Know that your Mom is still smiling down on the family.
