Verna Leal Lafon- Loved collecting dolls, tending her garden, hikes

Verna Leal Lafon, 87, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2004
in Healdsburg. Verna was born on February 12, 1916 on the family
ranch in West Dry Creek in Healdsburg. She was the daughter of
Ralph Sandborn (Lois), whose parents located in Healdsburg in 1900.
Verna, a graduate of San Jose State, taught second grade in
Healdsburg for more than 20 years and was a longtime member of the
Healdsburg Historical Society. She was also a member of the
Healdsburg Community Church. Collecting dolls, tending her garden
and hiking the trails of her mountain ranch filled her life with
joy. Verna was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard
Edmonds, sports editor of the Sacramento Union, and her second
husband of 50 years, Felix Lafon, former Healdsburg city
councilmember. She is survived by her three children: Philip
Edmonds (Sheila), and Celeste Lafon, of Healdsburg, and Charles
Lafon (Loren) of Santa Rosa; her five grandsons, Mark Edmonds
(Sarah) of Vacaville, Eric Edmonds of Healdsburg, Jeff Edmonds
(Vickey) of Santa Rosa, Randy Lafon of Castro Valley and C.J. Lafon
of Santa Rosa; her three great-grandchildren Ashlie and Jacob
Philip Edmonds of Santa Rosa, Leah Edmonds of Vacaville; and her
brother Ralph Sandborn, Jr. of Santa Rosa. At her request, no
services will be held. Donations in Verna’s memory can be made to
the Healdsburg Historical Society or the Healdsburg Community
Church.