Laveda Black Adair Mahon

May 24, 1924 ~ September 14, 2013
LaVeda Black was born on May 24, 1924, in Blanding, UT, to Adelaide Oliver and Edson Black.
She is the seventh of nine children.
She grew up in Blanding and graduated from San Juan High School, where she was a cheerleader during her junior and senior years.
After graduation, LaVeda went to Grand Junction, CO to business school but moved home after only a few months because she disliked school.
When her best friend Ruth Eichenberger wrote and asked her to move to Salt Lake City to live with her and work, LaVeda did. She and Ruth had been best friends all of their growing up years. The Eichenbergers lived just across the street. Ruth and LaVeda remained best friends during their entire lives. Ruth passed away just two months ago.
LaVeda married Arthur Adair on December 29, 1945 in Aztec, NM. They lived in Blanding for a while after their marriage, but Art’s work as a night guard at the uranium plant in Monticello had him driving back and forth so they decided to move to Monticello.
LaVeda and Art had six children. They loved their family and spent as much time together as they could. Most of their family vacations were spent fishing somewhere in Utah or Colorado.
Art was injured in a fall from a horse in June of 1964 and never recovered. He died October 21, 1964, leaving LaVeda with her young family. She went to work to support them. She worked in several grocery stores in Monticello and at First Security Bank.
On February 5, 1972, LaVeda married Carl Mahon. Carl loved the Deseret bighorn sheep and was involved in many national conventions. LaVeda often accompanied him in their early years of marriage. LaVeda and Carl loved to roam the mountains and canyons of San Juan County. They spent much time camping and hunting arrowheads.
LaVeda and Carl moved to Cedar City, UT when Carl was transferred there in 1975. She worked in J.C. Penney while they were there. Carl was able to transfer back to Monticello in 1981, and they moved home.
Carl and LaVeda made a trip to Italy in 1983 to see Trudy, who was teaching high school on an Air Force Base there.
They went to Germany, Yugoslavia, Austria and Italy. LaVeda traveled back to Italy three more times and saw much of Italy and a number of European countries.
Carl and Laveda served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Nauvoo, IL. LaVeda learned to make candles and clay candlesticks. She worked in the bakery and in various houses in Nauvoo. She really enjoyed her mission.
Carl died November 11, 2004. LaVeda spent the rest of her life traveling when she had the opportunity and exploring her beloved San Juan County.
LaVeda died in her home surrounded by her children and one granddaughter on September 14, 2013.
She leaves behind five children: Trudy (Gianfranco) De Angelis, Dena (Dell) Hunter, Verna (Joe) Mirabal, Kent B. (Chris) Adair, and Karen (Edwin) Taylor; also 11 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law: Mary (Oley) Black and Eula (Ted) Beeson.
She also leaves five step-children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren from her marriage to Carl.
LaVeda is preceded in death by both of her husbands, Art and Carl; infant son, Harvey William; parents; and all of her siblings.
She left a posterity who will continue to honor and love her for her great sense of family and for her ability to laugh in even the most difficult situations. She never lost that even up to the end.