Raylene Russell Lavender, age 78, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by all 6 of her children by her side. She is now reunited with her daddy, Cyrus Russell and her Grandbaby, Austin Lavender. Our family will miss her dearly and her passing will leave a huge hole in our hearts.
Our dear sweet Mother loved truly and unconditionally, and her children and Grandchildren were her whole world. She protected her children without them even knowing they needed protecting.
Our Mother was our Selfless, Faithful, Steadfast, and Spiritual warrior! She was a perfect example of Christ-like love and enduring to the end.
Our most loving Mother was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints and served and magnified her callings endlessly.
Our Precious Mother used her talents to make beautiful cards to send notes of encouragement to those who were sick, had birthdays, or cards of sympathy.
Raylene Russell Lavender is survived by her children, Kristy Lavender Babbitt, Celeste Lavender Kniefel, Marchelle Lavender, Scott Lavender, Jenae Lavender Farnsworth, Wendilyn Lavender, 28 Grandchildren and 15 Great-Grandchildren, Mother, Lurline Ray Russell, Siblings: Judy Smith, Keith Russell, Alan Allred, Donetta Bowers, Kathy Broughton, Rory Russell, and Ric Russell. She was preceded in death by her Father, Cyrus Russell, her brother, Gary Russell, and her Grandson, Austin Lavender.
Raylene’s Funeral Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints church building at 933 E. Brown Rd. In Mesa, AZ on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. and Cemetery Services held directly afterwards at the Mesa Cemetery.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Raylene, we are all going to miss you terribly, you gave all of those that knew and loved you a very special gift, your presence. We loved and spending time with you, from cutting out paper dolls on your parent’s floor to making greeting cards, which you mastered incredibly! Thank you for all of those years and treasured memories being your cousin.
Dear Lavender & Russell families – Thank you for so many childhood memories and wonderful times spent with you and in your homes. I have so many treasured memories! Learning to ride a bike and Raylene driving around the neighborhood to make sure I could stop safely when I told her I couldn’t, hearing and seeing Raylene cry the day Elvis died, visiting the leather shop, delivering Avon brochures and samples, doing cartwheels in the backyard, getting 7-Eleven slurpees, attending church, sleepovers at Grandma Russell’s house, making pot pies, your family moving away and my heart breaking! Being invited for more sleepovers at your new house, staying up and watching CHiPs as a teenager, going swimming at Kino, playing games. Raylene was the perfect best friend Mom! She was always so welcoming, loving, caring and fun to be around! She loved everyone and had a tender way of making sure everyone felt welcome. She made a lasting mark on my heart. She lived a life of courage and faith. I’m so thankful our lives crossed paths. “Because I knew her, I have been changed, for good”.