LaVena Kay Kidd

LaVena Kay Kidd, 82, passed away Sunday April 23, 2023, at Salem Home in Hillsboro, Kansas.

LaVena was born May 8, 1940 in El Dorado, Kansas, the daughter of Jesse and Mary (Tyndall) Chisman.  She grew up in Augusta, where her father was for many years the town's shoe cobbler.  She attended Augusta schools and graduated from Augusta High School in 1958, then attended El Dorado Junior College (now Butler Community College) where she studied nursing.

On August 21, 1960 she married Lester Edward Kidd, who she met in Topeka where at the time she was continuing her nurses training at First Southern Baptist Church in Augusta.  He preceded her in death January 23, 2023.  They established their first home in Salina, where Ed at the time was serving in the Kansas Army National Guard.  All three of their children were born in Salina, where the family resided until 1969, when they moved to Lawrence.

A McPherson resident since 1973, she was a homemaker and artist, also working as a magazine racker for MS News for many years. One of her designs was used as the button for the 2012 McPherson County All Schools Day Celebration and is included in the All Schools Day courtyard at the McPherson Community Building.

She was also a long time member of MENSA, and did a variety of art work that was published in regional, national and international publications.

LaVena is survived by two sons, Lucky and Patrick, and one daughter, Elizabeth Hedberg, all of McPherson,along with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a sister, Jolene Palmer.

A graveside service for LaVena and Ed will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the Smoky Hill Cemetery near Lindsborg.  Rev. Lynn Scott will officiate the service.

Memorial donations may be given to the McPherson County Humane Society.