“Verla Dean” Main, second daughter of Esther Ruth (Cole) and Roth B. Nevill, was born on October 25, 1925 in a farm home northeast of Clearfield, Iowa in Ringgold County. Verla passed away July 9, 2022 in Amarillo, TX at the age of 96 years. Verla’s body was cremated and laid to rest in the Clearfield Cemetery, Clearfield, IA.
She was a member of the Cradle Roll of the Methodist Church in Clearfield and when a teenager, was baptized into that church and was a faithful believer in the Lord and his works.
Verla received her education and graduated with the class of 1943 from the Clearfield Grade and High School. During her teen years she was first employed at “Mrs. Dakin’s Hat Shoppe” and later as a salesclerk at Dolecheck’s Grocery Store in Clearfield. After graduation, she worked at Swift’s Creamery in Creston before going to Orlando, Florida where she was married on September 4, 1943 to Houston F. Main of Benton, Iowa who was stationed there with the U.S. Army Air Force. They also lived in San Antonio, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma before his tour of duty in the Pacific Theater. While in Oklahoma City, Verla gave birth to their son, Ellis Eugene, and later came to Clearfield to be near family members.
After Houston’s return, the Mains lived in Clearfield and Verla was a news reporter and worked for Jack Bonebrake in the Clearfield Enterprise office. Later, she was a farmwife while living in different locations in Southern Iowa. She also waitressed for five different owners of the Clearfield Café. In the early 1950’s, the family moved to Grand Island near where they had employment at the Silvas Mason Ordinance Plant until its closure.
Their next move was to Columbia MO in 1954 where Houston was employed in the construction of a new Sears store and Verla became an associate serving in many positions and continued there until 1998 when she transferred from the Auditing Department there to the same position in the Sears in Amarillo, TX where they could be near their son and his family. Verla retired after 37 years in January 1991. She continued living in Amarillo until December of 2009 when she moved “back home” to Iowa to be near her sister, other relatives, and friends- making her home in Creston, IA.
Verla loved sewing and crocheting and corresponding with many relatives and acquaintances as well as writing poetry. Two of her poems written at age 82 were published. She always looked forward to attending the Annual Alumni Banquet in Clearfield and visiting old friends and making new ones.
In 2013 Verla returned to Amarillo, TX living alone in a home next to her son Skip. She remained there until entering a nursing home 8 days prior to her death at the age of 96 years. Verla always had a smile for everyone, a good sense of humor and a zest for life.
Verla leaves to mourn her passing her son Ellis “Skip” Main (significant other Pattie Rhoades), granddaughter Rebecca Harris, nieces Patsy Arnold of Shannon City, IA, Lori and husband John Hays, and Christi Byerly of Creston, IA., nephew Steve Hamilton and other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Verla was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 1994, sister Eula Jean and husband Marvin Gaule, sister Rosalie and husband Jim Hamilton, grandson Brent Main in 2012, daughter-in-law Sharon Main in 2017, niece Joni Stanley, nephew Curtis Gaule, niece Betty Gaule, Houston’s parents, sister-in-law Charlotte, sister-in-law Shirley and husband Harry Young, all her grandparents, aunts and uncles.
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