Velma G. Harden, left this life on Sunday, May 24, 2009, at the age of 97. She had remained in her home until May 20, when she entered the Senior Care Living Center at Winchester.
Velma was born on Sept. 29, 1911, at Burr Oak, KS the daughter of Emry and Katie M. Tierney Robertson. At age 14 Velma took in sewing to support her mother and herself until she graduated from Ozawkie High School in1930. She lived most of her life in the Ozawkie area with the exception of 20 years when she and her family moved to Valley Falls when she moved because of the construction of Perry Lake.
She married her high school sweetheart, Willis "Buck" Harden, on Feb. 27, 1932. Times were rough and money was short but their first boss, Bert Metzger, gave them this advice, "No matter how much or how little you make, save a little from each paycheck, earn interest, and you'll make it" … and they did. During WW II Velma worked with her husband, "Buck", as a truck driver at the Bert Metzger Quarry, (which became the Roy Baker Quarry) east of Valley Falls. She later was employed at the Bank and at the Post Office, both at Ozawkie. After moving to Valley Falls she worked at Rex Anderson Motors, Brown's Marina and John Deere Implement. She managed Lee's Flower Shop in Valley Falls for several years. She was also a cafeteria cook at USD 340 Middle School at Ozawkie.
Velma was a member of the Oskaloosa United Methodist Church and a former member of the Valley Falls United Methodist Church. She had been a member of the Starlight Home Demonstration Unit
Her husband, "Buck" Harden, preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1982.
Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Nesbitt, and husband Ron, her granddaughter, Rhonda R. Lindsay, and husband, Ed, all of Oskaloosa and her great-granddaughter, Jennifer L. Dunham, and husband, JD, Meriden. They had lived next door to each other while they lived in Valley Falls and also after moving to Ferguson Road near Ozawkie.
A graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson County Hospice or to Jefferson County Humane Society and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home. 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are at mercerfuneralhomes.com.