Lorna Lee (Willard) Mathison passed away in her sleep at her home in Leavenworth on the morning of July 5, 2026, following a series of health problems. She was under the care of Faith Home Care and Hospice.

Lorna was born in Alma, Michigan to her parents, Ralph Sanderson and Mildred (Pickrel) Willard, on June 13, 1938. She attended Alma public schools and graduated in 1956. During her school years Lorna was always active in extracurricular school and church activities. She used to say, “If your mother is the Girl Scout leader, you are going to excel in scouting.” And she did exactly that, earning the Curved Bar Award, which was the highest rank at the time and is recognized today as the equivalent of the Girl Scout Gold Award. She was always an avid swimmer and worked as a lifeguard and waterfront director during the summers.

After high school Lorna attended The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Having developed a passion for the education of the deaf Lorna enrolled in Gallaudet College, Washington, D.C., the world’s only college for the deaf and hard of hearing. She received a Master of Science in Deaf Education from Gallaudet and taught at Rochester School for the Deaf in Rochester, New York for several years. While there she became involved in an innovative project using programmed instruction to teach language to preschool deaf children. Her involvement in the project led to her to The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, to work in the Speech Department. She rented an apartment in Columbus, where she met an Army officer student named James S. "Jim" Mathison. After a relatively brief courtship, they were married on March 19, 1966.

Over the next 18 years, Lorna and Jim welcomed their sons Mark and Todd, as Jim’s career took them across the United States. Their travels also included a glorious three-year stint in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lorna played many roles during this time, but primarily, she was the engine that kept the family going.

When Jim retired from the Army in 1984, they decided to remain in Leavenworth and moved to their lovingly-restored post-Civil War farmhouse, where they spent the next 30 or so years. In the 1980s, Lorna re-entered the workforce, teaching at Immaculata High School before joining the Education Department of what is now the Lansing Correctional Facility. Her dedication to her students there ultimately led to her appointment as Director of Education.

After Lorna left work, she and Jim entered into what they referred to as the “traveling years.” They returned to Brazil twice, journeyed to Africa, made several trips to Europe, and visited Hawaii a number of times. Hawaii truly became her happy place.

Throughout her years in Kansas, Lorna was deeply involved in the First Presbyterian Church of Leavenworth. She served faithfully as an Elder on multiple occasions and sang beautifully as a long-time member of the choir. A lifelong PEO member, Lorna was one of the primary founders of Chapter JM in Leavenworth.

Lorna was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph S. and Mildred P. Willard. She is survived by her husband James S. Mathison, Leavenworth, son Mark Mathison, Shawnee, and son Todd Mathison, his wife Tiffany, and their son Colin, all of Draper, Utah.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on July 16 at First Presbyterian Church, Leavenworth. For those who want to attend but are not able to do so, the service will be available on the church’s YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/live/ErgDOpeA-Sc.

Visitation will follow the service in the church living room.

Burial will follow in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, 150 Muncie Road, Leavenworth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Lorna’s memory be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 407 Walnut Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048, or to The College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

Arrangements are entrusted to Davis Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family at 1925 Somerset Terrace, Leavenworth, KS 66048-2943, or to the online guestbook at www.davisfuneralchapelinc.com.