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LaVerna C. Gemmell, McCune, Kan.
Comments 0 | Recommend 0LaVerna Collier Gemmell, 88, a lifelong resident of rural McCune, Kan., died at 5:20 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, at Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kan.
She was born April 2, 1919, in rural Pittsburg, Kan., a daughter of Harry and Mary Pazzie Collier. In 1941, she was married to R. Wayne Gemmell, who died Sept. 25, 1980.
When she was 18 months old, she moved with her parents one mile south of the Osage First Presbyterian Church near Girard, Kan. She attended the one-room country school, Gregg, for eight years, and graduated in 1937 from Girard High School. She was a wife and homemaker.
In 1952, she accepted a job to work in Sammy’s Grocery Store, the Dime Store and Keith’s IGA, all in Girard. She worked for more than 30 years.
She enjoyed people young and old. She was a member of several organizations around the community, holding different offices over the years. In her earlier years, she and Fern Ulbrich had a Youth for Christ school for several years during the summer. She was a volunteer and president of the Girard Thrift Store. She taught Sunday school, was Sunday school superintendent, an elder and a lifelong member of the Osage First Presbyterian Church. She wrote items for several years for the Pittsburg Morning Sun and the Girard Press. In May 2003, she survived a tornado which destroyed her home.
Surviving are a son, Larry, and his wife Gloria Gemmell, of rural Girard; six grandchildren, some of Sedalia; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Ann Simpson, in 2004; a grandson, Larry Joe Gemmell, on Oct. 8, 2005; and a brother, Harry Collier.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard, with the Rev. Scott Bennett officiating. Burial will be in Girard Cemetery. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Osage First Presbyterian Church, in care of the funeral home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, KS 66743.
