Anita Lavell

Anita LaVell (Fitch) Larcade of Argonia died on August 16, 2022. She was born to Ray Kenneth and LaVell Josephine (Smith) Fitch on June 8, 1944, in Caldwell, Idaho. She attended schools in Newberg, Oregon, Centerview, Gate, Oklahoma, and Emporia before graduating high school in 1962.

She worked for several years in a drugstore, a chiropractor’s office, and as a dental assistant before returning to college and graduating in 1974 from Friends Bible College (Barclay College) with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Ministry. Anita pastored the Friends Church in Washington before moving to Wichita to work at the Better Book Room as a church supplies manager for 15 years. She also worked at Barclay College as a recruiter and eventually moved to Argonia to care for her father.

Anita was very active in her church; music, teaching, committees, bulletins, prayer calendars, and directories were some of her ministries. She counseled many and loved the children, making gifts and handing out strawberry mints. She enjoyed working on the computer, helping Donna with her genealogy work, and making cards and calendars for family and friends. She also promoted the Facebook group Friends Bible College Enthusiasts and Growing up in Gate, Okla. These last few years, she and her sister Donna enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends whenever possible. 

She met Sonny Larcade at her father’s funeral in April 2004. They were married on November 27 of that same year and enjoyed almost 13 years together before his passing in 2017. Anita became close with Sonny’s daughter, Tracy Omo, and Tim Larcade, his son. Taylor and Adam called her Grandma. 

Surviving Anita is her brothers, Gerald (Jean) Fitch, Argonia, Carol Dean Fitch, Haviland, one sister, Donna Fitch, Argonia, and one brother-in-law, Rocky Haskin, Mulvane. She was also known as Aunt Nini to Brian, Sandy, Marty, Clint, Mark, Kevin, Jasper, Samantha, and Katie in the first generation. Anita has 13 great nieces and nephews, three great grandnieces, and many friends. She will be missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Linda (Fitch) Haskin. She will be laid to rest in the Argonia cemetery, next to her sister and parents.

Visitation will be held at the Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, August 19, 2022.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2022, at Argonia Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life at 12:30 p.m. at the Argonia Friends Church.

A memorial fund has been established in her name with Barclay College. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home.

Share a memory, leave condolences or sign her digital tribute wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington.