Obituary of Verla Smith

View Video Tribute Verla Marie Moreland Smith was born on July 8, 1923 in McDonald, Kansas to Clarence and Verna (Kirk) Moreland. She departed this life on February 6, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland, KS at the age of 83. Verla grew up on a farm near McDonald, KS in a family of eleven children. As a young woman, she and her sister Dorothy founded the McDonald Clothing Company which they ran for many years. After her marriage to Duane on November 10, 1949, she became a homemaker and a caring mother to her daughters. In 1951, Duane and Verla began dry land farming in the Kanorado area. During the drought of the 1950’s, they moved their young family to the Denver area, but returned to Kanorado each summer to continue farming and to be with family. In 1964, they returned to Burlington to farm full time. Verla shared a love of music with her sisters and her daughters. She sang at many school functions with two of her sisters in a trio as a girl. Verla continued that love of singing with others around a piano at family gatherings and during car trips with her daughters. Verla loved children and was the “totsâ€? Sunday School teacher in the United Brethren Church near McDonald, Methodist Church in Kanorado and the First Christian Church in Burlington. She served the First Christian Church as financial secretary and deaconess for many years. Verla was baptized as a young woman in the United Brethren Church in McDonald. She was later baptized by immersion in the First Christian Church in Burlington. Verla kept God first and her family second throughout her life. In retirement, Verla and Duane enjoyed traveling and spending time in their Arizona home. When her health declined, they sold their home in Arizona and returned to Burlington. Verla became a resident in the Goodland Good Samaritan Center in 2005 where she received loving care. Verla’s love of family and her beautiful smile will be missed by many. Verla was preceded in death by her infant son, David; parents Verna and Clarence; brothers Lyle, Leon, Dale, Ernest; sisters Elsie Howard and Dorothy Smith. She leaves behind her husband of 56 years, Duane; daughter Sharman Wurst and husband Doug; daughter Shelley McArthur and husband Jerry; grandchildren Elisa, Ian, Jason, Eric and wife Ashley, Cody and wife Jessica and Traver; great grandchildren Sam and Cutler; twin sister Verda Smith, sister Delores Craig, brothers Lewis and Richard, and a sister-in-law Dottie Moreland Funeral services for Mrs. Smith were held on Friday, February 9, 2006 at 10:30 AM at the First Christian Church in Burlington with Pastor Ralph Datema officiating. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington. Visitation was held one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Memorials may be made in Verla’s name to the First Christian Church and may be left at the Bank of the West in Burlington.