Freda Mae LaVoye, age 81, of Farwell, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at her daughter’s home in Mt. Pleasant.  Freda was born on July 28, 1933 in Gilmore Township, the daughter of Fred and Leona Fahnestock Snyder.

        On September 4, 1954, Freda was united in marriage to Melvin Clairmont LaVoye in Angora, Indiana.  She was fortunate enough to be a homemaker and to raise her family.  As a young adult, Freda worked in her family’s restaurant in Farwell with her grandma.  She was a lady of many talents and enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, sewing, and tending her lawn and flower beds.  Freda had the most beautiful beds of gladiolas.  Freda will always be remembered for the holiday meals and the baked goods she would make with ease.   She enjoyed watching and spoiling her grandchildren.  Freda taught her family her secrets from old family recipes.  She even designed and drafted the home she and Melvin built.

      Freda is survived by her husband, Melvin; her children, Carol (her friend, Willard Owens) Wood of Loomis, Lew LaVoye of Farwell, and Jodi (Ronald) Campbell of Mt. Pleasant; her grandchildren, Gary Wood of Harrison, Scott (Rowena) Wood of Grand Rapids, Lonney LaVoye of Mt. Pleasant, and Alyssa Baker of Mt. Pleasant; great grandchildren, Gary, Monica, Hope, Katarina, and Brayden; and her siblings, Gerald (Dianne) Snyder of St. Louis, Alida (Jim) Hendershot of Anchorage, Alaska, Marilyn (Larry) Derevage of Clinton, Kentucky, and Judy Snyder of Fulton, Kentucky.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her mother and father-in-law, Lewis and Mabel (Sieting) LaVoye; brothers, Danny Snyder and Larry Snyder.

        A family memorial service for Freda is being planned for late August.  Freda will be laid to rest in Gilmore Township Cemetery beside her grandparents, A. I. and Lida (Putnam) Snyder as per her wishes.  The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Hospice for all the wonderful care Freda was given.  Envelopes are available at Rowley Funeral home.