Birth Name: Marian Hennen
Birth Date: 01/15/2025
Birth Place: Elko, Nevada
Date of Death: 04/17/2025
Place of Death: Reno, Nevada
Remembering Marian
by Patti Bernard
Marian Hennen LaVoy was born to Joseph and Isabelle Hennen, a pioneer couple from Elko County, Nevada. She grew up on the family ranch near Lamoille, about forty miles northeast of Elko. A graduate of Elko High School, Marian attended the University of Nevada, earning a two‑year “Normal” Degree in June 1944, which qualified her to teach in Nevada. But life took a different turn when she met a dashing young man from Sparks—John LaVoy, then training to become a Marine pilot. They wed four months after.
For the next twenty‑eight years, Marian embraced the life of a Marine officer’s wife, moving from post to post as John advanced in his career. Along the way, they welcomed two boys and a girl. Wherever the family was stationed, Marian brought her trademark confidence and kindness, quickly finding volunteer roles where she could lend a hand and strengthen the community around her.
When Col. LaVoy retired from active duty in 1970, the couple returned to Reno—a homecoming that reignited Marian’s passion for community service. She threw herself into volunteer work with characteristic energy, and local organizations soon recognized her exceptional communication skills and natural talent for solving problems. Leadership roles followed, but Marian’s true gift was her ability to connect with people from every walk of life. She offered empathy, encouragement, and a listening ear. She was, in every sense, the ideal volunteer.
The next chapter took Marian and John to Fallon, where they purchased a small ranch. Even rural life couldn’t slow her down. She became a familiar and beloved presence throughout the community—conducting oral histories at the Churchill County Museum, serving on the Churchill Recreation and Parks Commission, and supporting the Navy‑Marine Relief Society. Wherever she went, Marian brought dedication, warmth, and a genuine commitment to helping others.
In 1999, the couple returned to Reno to be closer to family. At seventy‑five, Marian plunged right back into the volunteer work she loved. Deeply proud of her Nevada roots and passionate about honoring the often‑overlooked women who shaped the state, she joined the Nevada Women’s History Project—where I first met her. Even into her nineties, she remained active in many of the organizations she had supported before moving to Fallon, having added NWHP to the list with her characteristic enthusiasm.
After John passed away in 2014, Marian remained active with remarkable independence, staying engaged in the causes and communities that mattered to her. One of my favorite memories is from an annual Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where we bonded over our shared love of Nevada history and our roses. When she could no longer drive, I became her “chauffeur” to NWHP programs, as well as just lunch dates. I cherished her sharp wit about the realities of aging and admired the resilience she brought to maintaining her independence for as long as she possibly could.
Marian received numerous certificates and plaques in recognition of her service, and while she appreciated the spirit behind them, one moment from our NWHP Oral History Project interview has always stayed with me. When I asked how she hoped to be remembered, she replied simply, “I would just like to be remembered as good old Marian. I don’t expect any adulation or anything like that. And mother of my children, grandmother of…I think I have 17 great‑grandchildren.” Later she added, “I’ve always liked people, and I’ve always tried to be friendly to people. And most people return that friendliness, which makes me feel good.”
Marian lived to be 100. Throughout her long life, she poured her energy into the causes she believed in, met challenges with quiet tenacity, and guarded her independence with grace. She never sought the spotlight, always seeing herself as one small but essential part of a community’s greater good. In every sense, she embodied the spirit of a true Nevada woman.
Click here to read her obituary.
