Lura Deshazer

Lura Lavada "Vada" (Scarbrough) Deshazer, 92, of Thatcher, passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at her home in Thatcher. She was born on February 5, 1926, in Montreal, Arkansas, to Alex and Ophelia (Rush) Scarbrough. She was born the third child to a family of 4 children. They all preceded her in death. Roy Scarbrough, Murtle Marie Scarbrough, and Grady (Scarbrough) Barns. She grew up around Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, where she met and married Joe Deshazer. They were married in Muskogee, OK, on July 11, 1942. They were together for 64 years. They later moved to Safford, AZ, and bought a home in Thatcher. Joe was well known for his drywall skills, he was known as "Dobber Joe". Lavada often helped him on jobs. She was a housekeeper, wife, mother, grandmother, and a helper to any who needed her help. She attended the Assembly of God Church in Safford. She was often a Sunday School Teacher, sometimes Minister, and Song Leader, and among a lot of other things. She was always willing to fill in where ever she was needed. She was very loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister. She loved life and was always loving and devoting her time to others. She did odd jobs around Safford and Thatcher, as a housekeeper, and worked on the experiment farm, picking cotton, and being Weigh Boss. She was a Minister of God's Word, she would preach or teach where ever she could. She received her minister's license in 2008. She loved preaching and teaching God's word more than anything. Lavada had many hobbies. She loved working in her yard, having a garden, sewing, cooking, and she loved to read books, especially the BIBLE. She also loved to "Yard Hop", as she called it, and that was one of her favorite things to do. She always said she had her car trained to find and stop at yard sales. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, step-daughter, Mickey, and many family members. She leaves behind a sister-in-law, Julia (Deshazer) White, of Safford; daughter, Virgie Alice Deshazer Jones (Arvel), of Thatcher; three grandchildren, Deborah Graham (JC) of Russellville, AR, Rebeca Dixon (Mark), Jerry Brock Jr. (Natalie) all of Hector, AK; 9 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; 3 step-children, Rev. Bob Deshazer (Donna) of Kiowa, OK, and Opal McClelland (Jay) of Thatcher; 11 step-grandchildren, and numerous great and great-great step grandchildren. She considers all her stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as her own and loved them as her own. She was very loved and will be greatly missed. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2018, at the McDougal's Caldwell Funeral Chapel. 112 East Main Street, Safford. Viewing will be prior to services beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be in the Gila Valley Memorial Gardens, next to her loving husband Joe, of 64 years.