Verva Mae Bixler 1885-1958

BIXLER, CALKINS, REID, SHERMAN, BRAINARD

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/11/2016 at 09:57:38

30 October 1958 - The Clarence Sun

Verva Mae Bixler was born March 10, 1885 at Wyoming, Iowa, the daughter of Ella Mae Calkins and George Brainard.

Her childhood was spent in Olin, Iowa. As a young woman she attended Grinnell College and later taught school at West Bend and at Cedar Rapids. Then she moved to Clarence as a retired schoolteacher.

She was married to Floyd Elroy Bixler on December 16, 1914, and to this union were born three children who survive her. Her husband preceded her in death in 1950.

Mrs. Bixler for many years was the choir director of the now closed Presbyterian church of Clarence. After the closing of the above church, she became a member of the Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Clarence Chapter No. 461 of the Order of the Eastern Star of which she was a Past Matron.

Mrs. Bixler passed away at a Jacksonville, Illinois hospital early on Sunday morning, October 19, 1958, after a lingering illness, at the age of 73 years, 7 months and 9 days.

Survivors include: one daughter, Phyllis, Mrs. Dempsey Reid of Macomb, Ill., with whom she made her home for several years; two sons: Warren Keith Bixler of Reno, Nevada and Robert Bixler of Richland, Washington; one sister, Miss Frances Lucille Sherman of Olin, Iowa and eleven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one brother, Charles Brainard.

Sermon topic: "The Lord is My Light and My Salvation" Psalm 27:1.

Ladies of the Past Matron's Circle provided dinner and lunch at the Masonic hall for the family.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Clarence at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, October 23, 1958 with Dr. C. H. Pettersen in charge. The music was furnished by Mrs. Eugene McCaw and Mrs. Roland Mingst with Mrs. Robert Joslin as the organist. In charge of the many beautiful floral arrangements were Mrs. J. B. Lane and Mrs. Randolph Kastler. The pallbearers were John Paul, Lloyd Phillips, Vern Freeman, Durwood Greig, Henry Klatt and Randolph Kastler.

Interment was made in the Clarence Cemetery.