Verla M. Hixson

Funeral Services for Verla Hixson, age 96 of Neligh, NE was 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater with Pastor Fay Hubbard, Officiating. Music was provided by Lois Hixson, Organist and Tom Kimes, Soloist. Burial was in the Clearwater Cemetery. Pallbearers were Willie Hixson, Rick Hixson, Rod Potter, Babe Bender, Ed Seier, and Norman Hixson. Visitation was 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. Verla passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Golden Living Center in Neligh, NE. Verla M. Hixson, age 96, died at Golden Living Center, Neligh, NE on Saturday August 17, 2013. She was recovering from the flu as she passed peacefully in her sleep. Verla was born on December 27, 1916, in Elgin, NE to Alfred and Nora M. (Wilcox) Lucas. Verla was one of nine children. She attended school until the eighth grade and then worked for various families doing chores and hard labor to support herself. On April 2, 1938, she married the love of her life, Vernon Wayne Hixson, in O'Neil, NE. Verla was no stranger to hard work. That is all she knew and she engrained the same expectation into her two sons, Dale and Bob. She kept a perfectly clean house and was an extraordinary cook. No meal could compete with her home cooking, in particular, her mouthwatering fried chicken and her scrumptious chocolate popcorn balls. The first year of marriage, Vernon and Verla picked corn by hand during the great depression for $0.50 a day. Verla became an expert packer as Vernon moved her and the boys over 25 times in the first 20 years they were married. While Vernon found work as a farmhand in different cities such as Elgin, Clearwater, Chambers and Champion, NE, Verla was a supportive homemaker and mother and worked the farm as well. In 1956, they moved to South Dakota for 3 years managing a Herford ranch and leasing a farm. The field work took a toll on Verla's hearing, which continued to deteriorate in her coming years. In 1959, Vernon and Verla escaped the frigid weather of South Dakota and moved to Neligh, NE. Verla worked three jobs as a cook at the Imperial Steak House, the school, and the rest home. When Vernon became Sheriff and they lived above the jail, Verla cooked for the prisoners. The crime rate must have increased when people heard of the home cooking that Verla provided to the jailhouse inmates! Verla and Vernon settled on the farm in Neligh raising quarter horses, chickens, and cattle until 1992. Then the farm and horses were sold and they retired and moved to town in Clearwater, NE. Verla was an avid bowler, she canned her own fruits and vegetables, and she loved to play cards and read books. Her memory was always very vivid and she "filled in the blanks" for Vernon when he tried to tell stories to his family and friends. Even with Verla's hearing gone, Verla's memory was as sharp as her wit. She would always make the family laugh and she passed on that trait to her sons and grandchildren. Vernon passed in 2002 and Verla lived alone and continued to mow her own grass, ride her bike to the grocery store, and tend to her flowers and her vegetable garden. In 2010 she moved in with her Granddaughter Brenda Towns in Giltner, NE. Brenda cared for Verla for three years until Verla was moved to Golden Living Center in Neligh, NE for her remaining three weeks. Vernon and Verla shared a special connection and Verla continued to "fill in the blanks" until Vernon's last days. Verla's love for her family was unmatched. She raised strong, independent sons and enjoyed watching their families grow. Her pictures of her ever growing family were priceless to her. Verla's greatest wish over the last 10 years of her life was to be reunited with her soul mate, Vernon. She would often reminisce about Vernon and her eyes would fill with tears and you could see the pain she felt with him gone. There is nowhere else she wanted to be but by his side. Her family is comforted knowing her wish has finally come true as Verla and Vernon are reunited in heaven. Survived by her sons: Dale and wife Noretta Hixson of Ewing, NE and Bob & Linda Hixson of Howe, TX. Grandchildren: Brenda Towns, Willie (Lois) Hixson, Judy (Rod) Potter, Rick (Micki) Hixson, Leandra (Gene) Valdez, Michelle (Gabe) Bender, Melinda (Elliott) Valdez, and Amber (Dave) Hardwick. Great grandchildren: Jeremy Henkenius, Sarah (Dan) Shaffer, Emily Towns, Lidia Towns, Kaci, Kori, Kiley Hixson, Breanna, Bryce Potter, Troy, Trent Hixson, Kaelen, Ethan Valdez, Gavin, Pryce Bender, and Collin, Brittany Valdez. Great great grandchildren: Taryn, Kira, Liam Shaffer. Preceded in Death by Husband, Vernon. Borthers: Floyd, Willie, Arthur, and Thomas. Sisters: Nola, Ellen, Norma, and Evelyn. Dale, Noretta, Bob and Linda and their families would like to thank everyone for their love and support during this time.