Sigrid Lavern Howerton

Sigrid LaVerne Ockerstrom-Howerton, 91, of Independence MO died June 28 at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehabilitation.  She was born April 30, 1932 in Stambaugh MI after the Ockerstrom family had emigrated from Sweden. Mrs. Howerton grew up on the family farm in Iron River, MI with a complete command of both the Swedish and English language. Learning early from her parents how important the bond of family and Jesus is for a successful home.
Mrs. Howerton was a graduate of Iron River MI High School. She then became a graduate of the Michael Reese School of Nursing where she specialized premature babies and pediatrics.
After schooling, Mrs. Howerton became a blessed housewife and began her "beautiful family" as she liked to call them, starting with her five children.  She took an active role in their academic lives, being a PTA President and later running for school board. She also worked with various PTA and church groups in the area creating workshops and teen challenges.
In her earlier working years, Mrs. Howerton was employed at Leiters Designer Fabrics, Kansas City and later retired from Allis-Chalmers in Independence. After "retiring", Mrs. Howerton began a new working chapter at the Estée Lauder counter in the  Dillards of Independence. She was known for picking out everyone’s perfect colors for their skin tone as well as her amazing taste in all things cosmetic and fashion.
Mrs. Howerton was so very proud of her family and often, "Grandma Sig" would say "look at all this, we did this!" in reference to her ever growing family. She was the type of grandma that always had cookie dough ready to bake on the counter, and was a legendary cook. Making the time to prepare her family the traditional Swedish foods she grew up with, she made sure the recipes her mother taught her would be passed on.
Grandma Sig would always step in to help any of her kids and grandkids, and often extended that love to their friends and their families as well. The list she kept of all the people she prayed for on a daily basis was extensive and she never failed to tell someone she was "raising a hedge of protective grace around them" with her prayer and strong faith.
She was an earnest Christian all her life and a member of the Cornerstone Church of Blue Springs MO.
Mrs. Howerton is survived by three sons, John E. Howerton (Becky), Crockett CA, Joel D. Howerton (Veronica), Lee’s Summit, and James A. Howerton (Deanna), Independence, 13 granchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Howerton was preceded in death by husband, Frank E. Howerton, a daughter, Lesa Jean Howerton, and a son, Paul R. Howerton II.  A celebration of life will be held on Saturday August 12 from 2;00- 5;00 pm at Cornerstone Church (301 SE AA Hwy., Blue Springs MO 64014). Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com. The family would also like to thank the wonderful, caring staff at Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab. and Ascend Hospice as well, "tack-sa-meeka!"