Verna Lucille Welsh, 93, of Cottonwood and Winslow passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, surrounded by her loving family as she made the transition from this life to her heavenly life to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be held at 11 o’clock this morning (Sept. 23) at Norvel Owens Mortuary Chapel, located at 1505 W. Third St. in Winslow. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Cottonwood Village, located at 201 E. Mingus Ave. in Cottonwood.
She was born in Newton, Kan., on Dec. 20, 1917.
Verna came to Winslow in 1939 to work for Fred Harvey and became a Harvey Girl, where she met L.D. Welsh, grandson of Major and Mrs. L.M. Shipley in 1941.
Over the years she was very active in the First Christian Church, was president of PTA, worked as a waitress for the Falcon Restaurant and was secretary-manager for the Winslow Chamber of Commerce.
In October of 2009 Verna decided to move to Cottonwood Village, and was thrilled with her apartment and getting to meet new friends, enjoying all of the activities offered at the Village. She always said this was her “Big Home,” because her home in Winslow was quite small.
Her love of God and Jesus Christ was always first in her daily living, and she always had a positive attitude and a great smile.
An awesome mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to everyone, she will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her loving daughters Jeanette (Dick) Volk and Leorena (Ray) Gore, son George (Carol) Welsh, granddaughters Cynthia (Ian) Stewart, Stephanie Doucette, Marka (Steve) Ross and Julie (Kevin) St. Cyr, grandsons Clifford (Eliza) Bealer, Chris (Vivian) Welsh and Kevin (Michelle) Welsh, step-grandson Mike Volk and step-granddaughter Gay Fox, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, seven step-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren, four step-great-great-grandchildren, sister Wilma Michael, niece Sandra Ann Michael and nephew Gary Grove.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Benjamin and Rhoda Northcott; her husband, Leo Dan Welsh; two sisters, Evelyn Grove and Lois Northcott; a grandson, Sean David Bealer; and a great-grandson, Brandon Doucette.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Northern Arizona Hospice, 203 S. Candy Lane, Suite 10-A, Cottonwood, Ariz. 86326, or to a charity of your choice.
