Virginia Hoggard LaFerney

Virginia Lee Hoggard LaFerney, 93, of Portageville, Missouri, was received into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.  She was the third of seven children born to Robert Jeffery and Rena Erda Porter Hoggard.

Virginia was born in Portageville, Missouri, attended Conran and Portageville schools and finished the eleventh grade where she met the love of her life, Claude Murl LaFerney. Claude and Virginia were married on July 21, 1945 in Rector, Arkansas. After Claude was drafted to fight in World War II, she continued her studies, graduating from high school. After World War II, Claude returned to Portageville to be with Virginia.  Virginia completed one year of college, taught elementary school for one year and worked as a bookkeeper at Pikey Gin until Claude was drafted to fight in the Korean War. Virginia followed Claude to Camp LeJeune while he served during the Korean War.  Upon their return to Portageville, Virginia continued to work as a bookkeeper, and they built their home to be near her parents.  She experienced a life changing event when she was injured and lost her parents, brother, Coy, and niece, Vickie, in a tragic car accident in 1956.

Claude and Virginia were blessed with three sons, Claude Jr., Coy, Carl and one daughter, Claudette.  Virginia was a homemaker while working seasonally as a bookkeeper.  She was active at the J.Y. Church of God, faithfully attending since it was formed in 1941.  She was thoughtful and creative, approaching all things with care.  Virginia was an excellent seamstress, crocheter, cook and baker. She spent a great amount of time gardening, tending her pecan trees and gathering pecans. Virginia enjoyed receiving family pictures, spending time with family, and watching her family grow.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Claude; parents Robert and Rena, and brothers Quincy and Coy; survived by siblings Geneva Patton, Russell Hoggard (Mary), Colean Mansfield, and Carolyn Fisher.

Left to cherish her memories are her children Claude Murl LaFerney Jr. (Cathy), Robert Coy LaFerney (Michelle), Claudette Virginia LaFerney (Larry Rindner), and Russell Carl LaFerney (Janet); grandchildren: Daniel LaFerney, Andrew LaFerney, Rachel Cowsert, Hannah Newman, Nathan LaFerney, Mark LaFerney, Grace LaFerney, Rebekah LaFerney; great grandchildren: Jacob Newman, Ammon Newman, Rhett Cowsert, Harrison LaFerney and Waverly LaFerney, and a host of extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a memorial donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), American Stroke Association (www.stroke.org), or Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).