Vernon, Velma Williamson

Velma Williamson Vernon, 96, of Anamosa, died Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, at ManorCare in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 Saturday morning, Aug. 22, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, where friends may call from 9 until service time. Interment will be in Wilcox Cemetery, Viola. Carla Burge will officiate at the services.

Surviving are a daughter, Shirley (Dick) Biggart; four stepchildren, Ruth (Jack) Switzer, Wayne (Carolyn) Vernon, Keith (Marilou) Vernon and Norman “Luke” Seeley, all of Anamosa; three grandchildren, Carolyn, Lloyd (Lorie) and Betty Biggart; six great-grandchildren, Chris, Scott, Alex Biggart, Ally Paulsen, Melinda Morarie and Kyra Biggart-Frazier; a great-great-grandchild, Kyden Scott; and many stepgrandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Lloyd Williamson and Lewis Vernon; a great-grandson, Shane Scott; a stepson, Charles Vernon; two sisters, Ruth Brown and Beulah Ratcliff; and three brothers, Cecil, Martin and Harold Bige.

Velma and Lloyd Williamson were married Dec. 26, 1933, in Indianola, Iowa. They started farming in 1935 near Troy Mills, later moving to a farm north of Marion. In 1958, they bought a farm between Viola and Fairview, where they farmed until 1968, when they moved to Anamosa. Lloyd preceded her in death on Jan. 11, 1973. Velma married Lewis Vernon on Dec. 14, 1980, in Morley. He preceded her in death on July 23, 1999. Velma continued to live independently for several years before going to the care center in August 2006. Velma's passion was baking pies and giving them to family and friends.

She was a kind and loving lady, always putting others ahead of herself.