Setsu "Jeannie" LaFon's Obituary
Setsu “Jeanie” LaFon, daughter of Shinsaku and Chiyo Katori, was born August 16, 1925 in Anzan, Manchuria (Japanese-occupied China now known as Anshan). She was the fourth of six children in a very close, loving, and accomplished family. Growing up in Manchuria, Setsu spoke Russian, Chinese, and English in addition to Japanese, although math and science were her academic passions. After the war, she worked as a highly skilled operator in Tokyo on the American base where she met and fell in love with Jean LaFon (d. Nov. 21, 2007). They were married on October 29, 1951 and spent the next fifty-six years of marriage together with great passion, sharing a love of classical music and many adventures as Jean was stationed at American bases around the world. When he retired from the Army they settled down in Tulsa where she would spend the last forty years of her life. Jeanie was a devoted mother to her two children, both of whom meant the world to her and were with her when she died.Jeanie was a woman of many talents, but spending time with children was the never ending wellspring of joy in her life. Her grandchildren were enchanted by her gentleness, playful nature, and total confidence of being, as were Jeanie’s many “adopted” grandchildren who she showered with generosity and love. In addition to skills at charming children, she was a Dr. Doolittle of sorts (particularly with dogs), alternately spoiling and scolding such that no creature had any doubt who was in charge.Setsu LaFon departed this world on Monday, December 9, 2019 in peace and without fear. She had an indomitable spirit, a fiery nature, an irreverent sense of humor, a tender gentleness, a sharp mind, and was effusively loving. In addition to her daughter Christine LaFon (Tulsa, OK), and son and daughter-in-law Ray and Loretta LaFon (Broken Arrow, OK), she is survived by her sister Yasu Kanai (Tokyo, Japan), her granddaughters Alicia Gibson (Minneapolis, MN), Elaina Gibson (Norman, OK), and Alexandra Gibson (Berlin, Germany), great-grandchildren Leela Gibson (Norman, OK), and Sidra and Felix Edwards (Minneapolis, MN) as well as many nephews and nieces in Japan whom she loved and held close to her heart.Burial and funeral services will be held at Floral Haven Funeral Home 6500 S 129th E Ave A, Broken Arrow on Monday, December 16, 10am. A celebration of life will take place on January 4th, please contact [email protected] for details on the celebration and to RSVP.—“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning, torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. That makes it hard to plan the day.”E.B. White
What’s your fondest memory of Setsu?
What’s a lesson you learned from Setsu?
Share a story where Setsu's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Setsu you’ll never forget.
How did Setsu make you smile?