R. Lavern Nearmyer, 77, of rural Newton passed away Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton under the care of Skiff Hospice.

A funeral service for Lavern will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Newton Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are being designated in Lavern’s name and may be left at the funeral home. 

Lavern, the son of John Ray and Letha Marie (Bell) Nearmyer, was born May 23, 1935, near Monroe.  He was a graduate of the Newton Senior High School Class of 1954.