McCAY, Garland and Vera
SADLER, PARKER, MCCAY, RICHARDSON
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2015 at 10:50:16
Reflections of Grand River, Iowa: 1881 - 1981
Clarke Pub. Co. Osceola IA. 1981.BIOGRAPHY ~ GARLAND AND VERA MCCAY
Vera Elizabeth Sadler was born November 13, 1902 to Arthur and Lille (Parker) Sadler in Lincoln Township, Union County, Iowa. She was the second of three daughters. She received her education in the Jerusalem School (also known as Lincoln No. 5) and graduated from Creston High School, second in her class. When she was in 8th grade, she was the champion speller of Union County.
Vera taught at Jerusalem School and Brush School (Lincoln No. 6). Her hobbies were playing the piano, piecing and quilting quilts and crocheting. After teaching school for three years, Vera married Garland McCay in Creston on July 1, 1923.
Born January 7, 1900, Garland was the son of of Lindley and Carrie (Richardson) McCay, in Keokuk County, Iowa. He received his education at What Cheer, Iowa and Golden City, Missouri, along with an older brother and sister. In 1910 the McCay family moved to Golden City, Missouri and the two older children were married there. In 1917 Garland and his parents moved back to Iowa and bought a farm in Union Township, Union County, Iowa, and in 1921 bought a farm in Clarke County, Iowa, near Woodburn.
Garland and Vera met at an ice cream social at the Jerusalem Church in early 1921. In a few months the family had moved to Clarke County, but Garland and Vera continued dating. There were no rock roads at that time so it wasn't always easy, even with Garland's new Model T. Ford Roadster.
They started farming near Weldon after their marriage in 1923, living on several farms in Decatur County until 1939 when they moved to a farm which they had purchased near Hopeville in Clarke County. They attended Methodist Churches wherever they lived and became members. Garland's hobbies were singing, playing baseball, hunting, trapping and fishing.
Vera was blind for many years and carried a white cane, and learned braille. In 1970, she had eye surgery and regained the sight of one eye (a miracle to those of us who knew her). They raised black Angus cattle, sheep and a large flock of laying hens. They had many flowers and shrubs in their lawn.
In November of 1976, they rented an apartment at Afton Manor West. They worked the rest of that year, moving and getting ready for a sale; and spent one night at the apartment before Christmas. On January 9, 1977, Garland died of a heart attack. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery located next to Jerusalem Church. Vera stayed at the farm and had the sale on February 3, moving to Afton that night. It was difficult for her as she had always lived on the farm. She sold the farm in May 1977 and in April 1979, vandals burned the house.
After moving to Afton, she became a member of the Union County Church of Christ. She has enjoyed many bus tours since being alone. Violenda S. Nelson has been Vera's Pen Pal for 62 years, and lives in Michigan. While Vera was on a Michigan tour, they met for the first time. They both thought they had a wonderful evening together.
By Vera McCay
NOTE: Vera died in 1995, and was interred beside Garland at Evergreen Cemetery, Union County, Iowa.
Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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