Sandra Kay Lavish

Another angel has joined the heavens. Sandra Kay Lavish passed away on October 17, 2024 at Valley View Hospital. She is preceded in death by her late husband Captain John L. Lavish, a USMC F4 pilot who died in Vietnam in 1967.Kay was born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1941.  She was an only child to Alma and Asst. Police Chief Charlie Powell and was heavily influenced by her grandparents “Big Mama and Big Daddy” who lived across the road. Her cousin Margie was like a sister and they were best childhood friends.She graduated from Meridian High School in 1959, then went on to get her Associate degree from Meridian Junior College in 1961.She worked for Pioneer Products until she married John Lavish.Then the newlyweds moved out west to Southern California. After John was killed in Vietnam, Kay stayed on in Orange County  launching a successful career as a moderator and analyst in the field of market research, eventually owning her own marketing research company.While living in OC she met Harlan Lassiter and they were best friends and companions until his death in July 2023.  She semi-retired to Wrightwood, California where they both enjoyed life in the mountains for several years.  In 2011 Harlan bought some properties in Mohave Valley and Kay purchased a home in Los Lagos, Fort Mohave where she resided for 13 years.Kay was active in her local community. She was co-chair of the Los Lagos activities committee for several years. She was a charter member of Los Lagos Book Club, and she was devoted to all things patriotic. As a member of MOAA she supported local activities for the betterment of Veterans. With her continued connection to her previous home and friends in Wrightwood, Ca., she was   considered the founding “Mother” of the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial Park.Kay was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bullhead City and most recently attended Mojave Valley United Methodist Church in Fort Mohave. She was a devout Christian whose strong faith and love of God were the focus of her life and the certainty of her peace in death.She leaves behind Margie & Dean Gebhart, Eddie Partridge of Meridian MS.; her sister-in-law, Linda Lavish of Springfield, Illinois; and many other friends.She will be dearly missed.Memorial services will be held at Mohave Valley United Methodist Church 1593 E.Lipan Blvd, Fort Mojave, AZ 86426 on Thursday, Nov. 21st at 3:00pm.