Obituary of Verna McDonald

Verna G. McDonald was born Verna Grace Showalter on June 24, 1915 in Stoddard, Nebraska. She was the third child of Norris and Bertha (Armstrong) Showalter. At age two, her family moved to a farm south of Holbrook, Nebraska. Later they moved to her Grandpa Showalter’s farm north of Cambridge, Nebraska. She attended country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1933 at the age of 17. Verna accepted the Lord as her savior at the age of 15. Her faith was very important to her. She was baptized in the Methodist Church and attended church and Sunday School. In 1937, during the depression, her family moved to Idaho. Verna did not go as she was employed in Idalia, Colorado. She met a married Clarence McDonald on August 31, 1950, her one and only love. In 1955, they moved to Denver, Colorado. Verna was blessed with three children, twin daughters Marolyn June and Carolyn Jean, and a son Verlan. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. She had a lot of different jobs, but her favorite was with printing and engraving with Autry Brothers of Denver, from which she retired in 1982 after 20 years. She built her own home in Denver in 1970, and enjoyed working in the yard and making beautiful quilts and other handmade items. For nine years she enjoyed the companionship of her little dog “Meshieâ€?. Her favorite holiday was Christmas when she spent weeks making homemade candies and cookies to give to her family and friends. She was an expert at making divinity. She always enjoyed having her family come stay with her and visiting them. Verna was preceded in death by her parents, Norris and Bertha, her husband Clarence, two sisters Blanche and Ethel, and one brother Glen. She is survived by her daughters Carrie Higgerson and her husband Ray of Loveland, Marolyn Kent and her husband Jerry formerly of Lakewood, and her son C. Verlan and his wife Darla of Kirk. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Verna was very devoted to her family. A quote from Verna: “I lived a goodley span of years and enjoyed all of them. I saw a thousand sunsets and watched an ocean roll. The joy you all have given me will stay with me and always be till the day we meet over there, so good-bye for now, I love you all.â€? Funeral services for Mrs. McDonald were held on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 1:30 PM at the Stratton Church of God with Pastor Dustin Sells officiating. Burial followed in the Kirk Cemetery in Kirk, Colorado. Visitation was held on Thursday, November 10, 2005 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington, Colorado. Memorials may be made in Verna’s name to the Kirk Fire Department and Ambulance Service and may be left at the First National Bank in Stratton.