Mar 20, 2008

Tawnya Lea Van Dyne was born Oct. 2, 1960 in Ava, the daughter of Bud and Wilma (Collins) Hutchison. She passed away Saturday, March 15, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, of injuries suffered earlier that day in a car wreck. Tawnya graduated from Ava High School in 1978 and lived in the Ava area most of her life. In 1979 she married Rodney Neil Van Dyne, of Independence, Kan. They lived six years in Sublette, Kan., where two children, Justin Michael and Kelsey Nikole were born. Tawnya was very involved in the Church of the Nazarene on a local and district level. She spent several years as the president of her church's youth group. She was also active in leadership serving on the District Advisory Board for several years. She loved working with children and she spent many years teaching, loving, and leading her own children as well as others. Many families have been influenced by her life and service to her community. She has taught 2nd grade at Ava Elementary for the past six years. Prior to this she taught pre-school which included six years operating “Bright Beginnings” in her home. She is survived by her husband Rodney, and son Justin and his wife, Sonia, all of Ava; daughter Kelsey, Olathe, Kan.; her parents, Bud and Wilma Hutchison, of Ava; and a host of family and friends. Visitation was held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Ava High School Gymnasium with Pastor Mark Hatcher and Pastor Dustin Ledford officiating. Burial was in the Ava Cemetery. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Ava Highway Church of the Nazarene Building Fund, Rt. 2, Box 774, Ava, MO 65608. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.