Missing Grandma Vera...

Grandma Vera

Today was a very, very sad day for our family as we lost our beloved Grandma Vera (my Dad's Mother). We got the call this morning that she was not doing well, so my sister and I rushed to be with her in Iowa. However, we were 10 minutes late. I will remember my Grandma in many ways. I will remember the days when she and Grandpa parked their camper in my parent's backyard for many summers. I will remember her saying at Christmas, "Do you like it?" & having paper fights with Grandpa George.  And, I will forever remember and say, "pert near," her phrase meaning almost. She was a very thoughtful and generous woman who lived to be 93 years old (she was 60 years older than me). She absolutely loved being a Great Grandma  and so loved Asher (Pictured above this past Easter. We did go ahead and have his party with Chris' family because my Aunt thought Grandma would want me to have it. I tried to make it a special first birthday for Asher as Grandma would have wanted). She kept saying that Chris and I would have 4 kids just like her and have 2 girls and then 2 boys, just like she did (Oh, not sure on that one, Grandma Vera!). Oh Grandma, I miss you!

 May eternal light shine upon you Grandma! We love and miss you already!

Here is her obituary:

Vera Leona Long, the daughter of Roy and Myrtle (Brown) Edwards, was born on October 29, 1915, near Shelby, Iowa. She grew up on farms in the Shelby area and graduated from Shelby High School in 1933. On April 4, 1934, Vera married Wilbur Henry Graybill in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The couple had four children: Norma, Joyce, Wayne, and Derald. They farmed in the Persia (Iowa) area until 1943, when they moved to a farm near Tennant, Iowa; they farmed there for 29 years. Following retirement, Vera and Wilbur moved to Shelby and wintered in Arizona. Wilbur died in April, 1976, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Vera married her second husband, Cloyce Beresford Long, in 1976. They enjoyed 14 years of marriage before his death, in January, 1992, in Harlan, Iowa. Vera remained in her home until 1997, when she became a resident of the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan.

Vera was a member of the Shelby United Methodist Church. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, working on the farm, square dancing, playing cards, and gardening. She especially liked to visit the casinos.

Vera L. Long died on Saturday, November 29, 2008, at the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, having reached the age of 93 years and 1 month.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Wilbur Henry Graybill and Cloyce Beresford Long; one daughter, Joyce Berg, in 1996; one son, Wayne Graybill, in 1999; two sisters; three brothers; two grandsons, David Berg and Kurt Gahm; and one great-granddaughter, Lyndsey Gahm. She is survived by one son, Derald (Bette) Graybill of Shelby, Iowa; one daughter, Norma J. (C. Joe) Gahm of Council Bluffs, Iowa; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; nieces and nephews; longtime devoted friends, John and Helen Barrett of Tennant, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, at the Shelby United Methodist Church in Shelby, Iowa, with Pastor Orris L. Drake officiating. Shirley Pattee was the organist, and Reva Jean Drake was the soloist. Honorary casket bearers were John and Helen Barrett. Active casket bearers were Mark Gahm, Krista Austin, Nikki Graybill, Karl Lee Gahm, Wayne Graybill, Jr., and Rodney Graybill. Burial was in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Shelby United Methodist Church. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Shelby was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.

 

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