Lawrence V. Westervelt, 87, of rural Columbus, died at Freeman Health Systems of Joplin, Mo., Sunday, November 16, 2008 after an illness.

He was born May 5, 1921 at rural Hallowell, the son of Cloyd Westervelt and Edith Guy Westervelt. He was a lifelong Cherokee County resident, farmer and cattleman. He attended Crossroads, Liberty and Pioneer No. 1 schools, West Mineral High School for two years graduating from Cherokee County Community High School in 1939. He married Dorothea Hill on September 22, 1948 at the Christian Church in Oswego. They lived at rural Hallowell for two years and moved to their present home where they have lived for 58 years.

He served on the Farmers Home Administration board, the Farmers Cooperative Exchange board, Farm Bureau board, ASCS board, Rural Water District #4 board.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothea; a son, Ronnie Westervelt and his wife Carla; daughter, Rita Westervelt; one sister, Betty Westervelt, Oswego and one brother, Wyman Westervelt of rural Hallowell; grandchildren, Natalie Speer, Kelly Mooney and husband, Joe, Tyler Speer and wife Christy, and Kylie Westervelt; great-grandchildren, Zeppelin Speer and Lily and Katy Mooney.

Lawrence loved to pheasant hunt in western Kansas and enjoyed his restored 1929 model A Ford. He loved his home, family and farming.

Family visitation will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, November 18 at the Simpson Funeral Home, 323 S. Kansas in Columbus.

The graveside funeral service will be at Park Cemetery in Columbus at 2 p.m. with Gayle Lucian officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Columbus Foundation in c/o Simpson Funeral Home who is in charge of funeral arrangements.