Obituary of Reverend Zona Louise Lautt

IN LOVING MEMORY Reverend Zona Louise Lautt Zona Louise Cross (Lautt) was born November 20, 1931 in Lake Edward, Minnesota, the daughter of Eddie and Violet Cross. She died at Farmington Square in Tualatin, Oregon on December 22, 2019 at age 88. The funeral service will be held at 10:00am on January 2, 2020 at Tigard United Methodist Church in Tigard, Oregon. Reverend Jeremy Hajdu-Paulen will be officiating. Zona’s final resting place will be at Morrisburg Cemetery, Panora, Iowa. Zona is survived by one son, Steven Lautt and wife Julie of Beach City, Ohio; three daughters, Cheryl and husband Dennis Baysinger of Madison, Kansas; Kathy and husband Kevin Sothman of Creston, Iowa; Melissa and husband Eric Winger of Tigard, Oregon; one brother Frank Cross of Missouri; three sisters, Lottie Jean Morales, Kay Caley, and Linda Detlefsen, all of Colorado; 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Clarence Lautt, her son Clarence Jr., grandson Levi Sothman and great granddaughter Lanie Sothman. Zona served as an office worker and Nursing Home Administrator before earning her Master of Divinity Degree from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. While raising their young family, Zona and Clarence left positions in industry to answer the call to ministry and serve as one of the first clergy couples; dedicating their lives to the work of the church. Zona loved serving the Lord. She was a member of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and served churches in Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Arkansas. For those who survive Zona, her passions in life will continue to inspire. Passionate about the family tree and gifted at storytelling, she devoted her time and talents to documenting the memories of her family. The rich and exhaustive histories she detailed, family newsletters, homemade cards, family cookbooks and comprehensive genealogy are a lasting gift for future generations. As an avid musician Zona leaves behind beautiful and joyful memories with grandchildren at her piano bench. As a traveler, she leaves behind the love of many people and places. As a storyteller, she will forever remind us of the value of legacy…each thought and memory carefully written down.