Roger D. Lavender

Roger D. Lavender, 50, of rural Altamont, and co-owner of Lavender Landscapes Nursery, passed away at 9:05 a.m., Sunday, March 26, 2017, surrounded by his loving family at the home of his mother.

He was born February 8, 1967, in Parsons, Kansas, to Dale Leon and Ruth Marie (Adams) Lavender. Roger attended Altamont Grade School, graduated from Labette County High School in 1985, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Friends University. He then returned to Altamont to work on the family farm and raise livestock.

Roger then began substituting in local school districts in the area. From that experience, he felt a calling to become a teacher. He returned to college at Pittsburg State University where he graduated at the top of his class with a teaching degree. He began teaching in the Parsons school district (U.S.D. 503) and continued to help on the family farm. During his tenure, he taught at Lincoln and Guthridge Elementary Schools and Parsons Middle School. While teaching in Parsons, he began a lasting friendship with one of his students and fell in love with that student's mother. On June 6, 1998, Roger and Cynda L. Owens were married on the family farm near Altamont.

Roger continued to teach in Parsons for 12 years until his father became ill, requiring him to devote more time to the family farm. In 2001, Roger and Cynda opened Lavender Landscapes Nursery which is still open near Altamont. He continued to devote his time to the family farm and the nursery until his death.

In earlier years, Roger attended the First Baptist Church in Altamont. His passions were working on the family farm, managing his cattle, and landscaping.

Survivors include his wife, Cynda Lavender, of the home; one son, Kristopher Hawley and his wife, Molly, Overland Park, KS; his mother, Ruth Lavender, rural Altamont, KS; one sister, Tammy Hilderbrand and her husband, Keith, rural Altamont, KS; a host of friends, and thousands of trees and flowers planted in the four-state area.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Lavender, on August 1, 2011; and a nephew, Joshua Hilderbrand, on December 13, 2015.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 31, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Altamont. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Thursday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Educational Foundation for the Roger Lavender Scholarship Fund or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.