Verla Joan Askew Conant
Verla Joan Askew Conant
Our
beloved friend, mother, and grandmother Verla Joan Askew Conant passed away
peacefully in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 28, 2012.
Verla
was born on October 29, 1934 to Gladys Opal McKinnis Askew and James William
Askew in Utica, a tiny town
close to Wichita, Kansas right in the middle of the “dust bowl”. The Askew family moved around following her
father James, as he found work to support the family. These moves hepled Verla
learn to adapt to change and shaped her into the loving and interesting woman
that she was. They settled in Jerome, Idaho where she attended school. After
graduating from Jerome High School, Verla attended Idaho State University where she
met her life-long partner and best friend, William Thomas “Tom” Conant of Twin
Falls, Idaho. Tom enlisted in the armed
services. Due to limited leave time, Tom
and Verla eloped and were married in Ely, Nevada on April 14, 1954 at 2:20 a.m.
Out of their union three beautiful daughters were born, Pamela, Terri, and
Cathy. Verla was an excellent accountant and finished out her career in October
2008, retiring from Idaho Housing Authority, “IHFA”. She was loved and
cherished by the employees of IHFA and they remain part of her extended family.
Verla was a dedicated and loving mother, wonderful wife, grandmother and friend
to all. Her zeal for life was contagious. If you met Verla once, she made a
permanent impact on your life. Those who had the pleasure of meeting her
continually flocked to Verla for her wisdom, humor, and positive outlook.
Verla was
passionate, hilariously funny and lived life right up until the very end. She
attended her 60
th
class reunion in July and was, “The belle of the
ball”. Reuniting with her classmates was
such a thrill for her, it was then that she realized how many people’s lives
she touched even at a young age.
Verla created
traditions that will be carried on for many generations. Her home was a “safe
haven” for all. Many hours were spent around the kitchen table problem solving,
sharing stories, laughing and crying. This was always referred to as “table
talk”. After leaving the Conant home, the world became lighter and brighter.
Verla
lost the love of her life May 6
,
2007, and is survived by her
daughters, Pam and her husband Rick Priest, Kuna, Idaho, Terri and her husband
Gary Premeaux, Manhattan Beach, California, and Cathy Beamguard of Boise,
Idaho; grandchildren, Lacey Jacobsen, April Brashier, Michael Keck, Kelsi Later
and Lexi Later. great-grandchildren,
Griffen and Brenna Jacobsen.
A memorial
service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2012, at Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Ave., Boise. A ceremony will be held at 10:00
a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery where
she will be placed next to her loving husband William Thomas “Tom” Conant.
In lieu of
flowers, please direct memorials or contributions to the American Diabetes
Association (americandiabetesassoc/donation@.diab.org)or the Idaho Humane
Society 4775 Dorman St. Boise, Idaho
83705 to pay tribute to Tom and Verla’s best pet friend for 21 years, “Annie”,
their pound cat.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Verla Joan Askew Conant, please visit our flower store.
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