LaVerne A. Meagher | Cemetery co-owner, 88

LaVerne Ashmead Meagher, 88, of Blue Bell, former co-owner of Whitemarsh Memorial Park cemetery, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Wednesday at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown.

Mrs. Meagher co-owned and operated the cemetery in Prospectville with her husband, George E. Meagher Jr. She was a cemetery director and officer from 1961 until 1993, when her husband died and she retired. Before buying them out, her husband had owned the cemetery with his father and other partners.

After she and her husband moved to Prospectville in the 1950s, Mrs. Meagher helped found Brownie Troop 422 in Horsham and Girl Scout Troop 809 in Prospectville. She was a troop leader for several years and then was a Girl Scout volunteer and consultant. She received the organization's William Penn Award for her service.

She enjoyed singing and dancing and performed in the annual variety show at Manufacturer's Golf and Country Club for 15 years. She also directed children's shows for the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. She and her husband owned a summer home in Stone Harbor and later in Avalon. In the 1970s they began to spend winter vacations in Arizona and joined the Rio Verde Country Club there.

Mrs. Meagher was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Lancaster. She met her future husband at a dance when he was a student at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. They married in 1941.

She was proud to be a descendant of Mary Ashmead, who settled in Philadelphia in 1683, her son George 3d said. Other ancestors fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

In addition to her son, Mrs. Meagher is survived by daughter Susan McConnell; a sister; a brother; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon tomorrow at Wayside Chapel, Whitemarsh Memorial Park, 1150 Limekiln Pike, Prospectville.

Donations may be made to Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Box 27540, Philadelphia 19118.