Hopkins, Vera Catherine (Kingery) 1915-2007

HOPKINS, KINGERY, CLARK

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/20/2008 at 16:13:34

Vera Catherine Hopkins was born on Feb. 26, 1915, near Monroe, in Marion County, the daughter of Frank and Jane (Clark) Kingery.

Vera lived her early life in Marion and Jasper counties. She attended rural Monroe grade school and graduated from Monroe High School.

On Dec. 14, 1931 she was united in marriage to John Alex Hopkins in Milan, Mo. To this union nine children were born, six boys and three girls. They were married 64 years.

She was confirmed in 1961 in the Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minn. Her passion for caring for people led her to complete the Nurse's Aid Certification in Park Rapids, Minn. She worked in Minnesota before moving to Chariton. While living in Chariton, Vera worked at Kessler's Nursing Home prior to her retirement in 1987. That same year Vera and John moved to Knoxville.

She loved to cut quilts, crochet Afghans and embroidery pillowcases and dish towels.

Vera passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, at the West Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 92.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1993; two daughters, Geneva Gee in 1971 and Audrey Thompson in 2002; two sons, Leonard in 1956 and Richard "Hoppy" in 2005; two daughters in infancy; brothers, John Kingery, Nate Kingery, Ora Carl Kingery, Fred Kingery, Jim Kingery and Earnest Kingery and two sisters, Blanche Carter and Cecil Schrader.

Left to remember all the wonderful memories she provided for them are her children, Carl (Sue) of San Diego, Calif., John Jr. (Unni) of Rialto, Calif., Vernon (Lois) of Salina, Kan., and Gary (Ruth) of Waverly, Minn.; daughter, Judy (Ralph) Mika of Mexico, Mo.; 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great grandchildren and many wonderful relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed by all of them.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, at Bybee and Davis Funeral Home with Rev. Neil Montz officiating. Interment was in Dunreath Cemetery in rural Marion County. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Columbia Rescue Unit or to Hospice of Central Iowa.

The Knoxville Journal Express, December 10, 2007