LaVerne Cobb
LaVerne Cobb, a woman of unyielding curiosity, formidable intellect and an apparent aversion to sitting still, passed away peacefully at the age of 80.
Arriving on the first anniversary of D-Day — June 6, 1945 — LaVerne was the second of five children and established early on that she would set her own path. She signaled her academic ambition as the honor graduate of Lenoir City High School and grand champion of the 1962 Southern Appalachian Science Fair. She went on to become the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in geology and math, followed by a Master of Science in geology in 1974.
Her early professional life was spent decoding the earth as a geologist for Texaco, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Gruy Federal and Gruy Petroleum Technology. By the mid-1980s, she had hung out her own shingle with LaVerne Cobb and Associates, Geologists and Engineers. Her credentials included being a certified professional geologist and registered environmental manager.
Outside of her day job, her primary hobby during these years was buying, remodeling and flipping residential real estate, using houses she lived in or bought on speculation as her personal canvases. She also moonlighted for a time as an interior designer.
Never one to let a mild slight go unaddressed, LaVerne pursued her law degree to settle a boundary dispute with a particularly difficult neighbor. She earned her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 1988, passed the Texas, Tennessee and District of Columbia bar exams, and went on to have a legitimate, highly successful career in environmental law at Travelers Insurance, Lockheed Martin and in private practice — proving that spite, when properly directed, can be a remarkably effective career catalyst.
Beyond her formal credentials, LaVerne was known by all who crossed her path for holding a wonderfully eccentric array of viewpoints. Her creative spirit yielded two published mystery novels and a cookbook — a bold undertaking for a woman who readily acknowledged an utter lack of culinary skills.
In retirement, LaVerne and her husband, Cornelius Quincy Cobb, settled on his family’s riverfront property in East Tennessee. Ever the entrepreneur, LaVerne began hosting an Airbnb out of her home and later acquired the house across the street to expand operations. Knowing her own reputation, she astutely ran the business under her middle name, “Evelyn.” As LaVerne rightly observed, “LaVerne” was a formidable force not to be trifled with, whereas “Evelyn” was sweet, welcoming and earned flawless five-star reviews.
In her later years, LaVerne stayed engaged in current events through a uniquely tailored YouTube feed: political commentary, politically minded tarot card readers and fortune tellers, vlogs documenting French château restorations, and an endless stream of her favorite old-time country, bluegrass and folk music. She was an eager political commentator with friends and neighbors, always generous enough to debate the state of the world with anyone who possessed sufficient patience — or stamina — to engage her.
Her husband, Quincy, preceded her in death in December 2014, no doubt having cleared the way for her arrival.
LaVerne is survived by her children, Andrea Mouring and Aaron Cobb; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
To remember her life in the season and setting she loved most, family and friends will gather for a casual celebration of life at her riverfront home just outside Clinton from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Those who would like to join the family at her favorite place to remember her, share stories and celebrate her remarkable and original life are asked to RSVP to 309GibbsFerryRoad@gmail.com.
