Verna Maurine Thiessen Ford, age 92 of Wanette passed away unexpectedly on Friday, July 1, 2016 at the Norman Regional Hospital. She was born July 11, 1923 in Gotebo, Oklahoma. She was the 2nd child of five children born to Abraham John Thiessen and Marie Goertz Thiessen.

Verna grew up a farm girl learning how to work hard in the cotton fields near Gotebo.

She attended high school in Gotebo and graduated with the class of 1942. While in high school she enjoyed playing basketball. She continued playing until the age of 46 with a team called the Raggedy Anns.

Verna married Henry Vernon Ford in 1945 and together they raised three children, Sheril, Hank and Walter.

Henry was a Vo-Ag teacher and for many years they lived in different towns in western Oklahoma including, Gotebo, Ringling, Sweetwater and Lookeba-Sickles before moving to Wanette in 1976. Henry soon retired after moving to Wanette but they remained living there to this day.

Verna was a faithful Christian woman and an active member of the Wanette United Methodist Church for many years. She loved her church and enjoyed mothering the young pastors of the church as they came and went.

Verna was an active supporter of the FFA throughout Henry’s teaching career.

She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed canning fresh garden vegetables from her garden. Throughout her life she enjoyed watching OSU sports and most recently the OKC Thunder. She also enjoyed keeping up with the local, state and national weather and calling everyone to warn them if bad weather was coming.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Marie Theissen, husband, Henry Ford, two sons, Walter and Hank Ford, granddaughter, Sabrina Lynn Smith, sister, Lanita Simms, and two brothers, Walter and Dewey Thiessen.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheril Rhnae Ford of Wanette, daughter-in-law, Joyce Ford of Galax, Virginia, brother, Willis Thiessen of Marion, Indiana, brother-in-law, Jim Simms of Washington, DC, three grandchildren, Jessica Whitaker and husband Billy of Galax, Virginia, Alicia Warf and husband Chris of Galax, Virginia and Heath Ford and wife Lianna of Leesburg, Virginia, six great grandchildren, also several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the Wanette United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are by Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell. Send online condolences@wilsonlittle.com.