Verlene W. (Willsey) Wright

Nov. 8, 1926-March 21, 2007

LOVELAND, Colo. -- Verlene W. (Willsey) Wright, 80, died Wednesday (March 21, 2007), at the Loveland Good Samaritan Center in Loveland, Colo.

She was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Huntley, to Delburn Fay and Irene Anna (Ball) Willsey. The family moved to Wauneta when she was six. She was baptized at age 11 in the United Methodist Church in Wauneta and graduated from Wauneta High School. She earned her elementary teacher's certificate at McCook Junior College.

On June 7, 1945, she married Harold R. Wright in Oberlin. She taught school until his discharge from the military. They farmed north of Imperial and later bought their own farm which they worked until retiring in 1979.

After retiring from the farm, they moved into Imperial where she became a certified nursing aide and worked at Chase County Hospital for a number of years. Harold preceded her in death on March 22, 1998. She moved to Imperial Park View and then the Imperial Manor. In May 2003, she moved to Sierra Vista Health Care Center in Loveland, later moving to the Loveland Good Samaritan Care Center.

She was active in the Lone Star Community and was a member of the extension club. She was a 4-H leader and was a member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4688 in Imperial. She also was a member of First United Methodist Church and a Bible study group.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; an infant daughter, Barbara Ann and daughter, Karen Kunnemann; three grandchildren, Shelley Martin, Jeff Kunnemann and Infant Wright; a son-in-law, Garry Martin; and a sister, Berdeanne Jussel-Stewart.

Survivors include daughters, Janice and husband, Doug Dutton of Imperial, and Rhonda and husband, Terry Beard of Loveland; a son, Bill and wife, Carolyn Wright of Douglas; former son-in-law, Dan Kunnemann; a brother, Delburn F. Willsey and wife, Betty of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; a sister, Maxine Ele and husband, Pat of McCook; brothers-in-law, Loran Wright and wife, Irene of Palisade; Donald Wright and wife Irene of Roswell, N.M.; a sister-in-law, Esther Fanning of Enders; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services are Monday, 10:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Imperial with the Revs. David Rowe and Kay Alnore officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta.

Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.