Verla Imogene Rhoads, 93, of Green City, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at her home surrounded by family.
Verla was born on November 29, 1930, in Springfield, Colorado, to Frank and Nellie (Butler) Johnson. She spent her younger years in the Reger area before moving, at the age of 9, to the farm north of Green City. She helped her mother raise her younger siblings while also tending to the gardens and working on the farm. On November 10, 1953, she married Vernon Rhoads. He preceded her in death on December 9, 2010. She is also preceded in death by her parents; sisters Fern, Shirley, and Wilma; and brothers Waylen, Elbert, Delbert, Sonny, Glen, and Albert.
Verla is survived by two children: Donald (Diane) Rhoads of Belton, Missouri, and Kristy (Mike) Harlan of Novinger, Missouri; four granddaughters: Shanna (Ben) Humphries of Kansas City, Missouri, Jami Johnson of Kirksville, Missouri, Shayla (Paul) Kramer of Shawnee, Kansas, and Misty Powelson of Columbia, Missouri; great-grandchildren Riley Humphries, Chloe Humphries, Lily Humphries, Nora Johnson, Trae Johnson, Kati Johnson, Mackenzie Kramer, Beckett Kramer, Madison Kramer, Natalie Powelson, and Sydney Powelson; and one sister, Wanda Roof of Unionville, Missouri, along with several nieces and nephews.
Verla was a farmwife who worked hard wherever she was needed on the farm. She worked the truck patches and tended to the many gardens around the farm. She raised chickens and guineas and sold the eggs she collected. She loved her animals, especially her horses and her dogs. She enjoyed playing cards, including pitch and was an avid coffee drinker. Most of all, she loved hosting family gatherings and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Services for Verla will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Green City, Missouri. A visitation will be held one hour prior, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery east of Green City.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
