Verna Marie (Morlan) Smith

Verna Marie (Morlan) Smith, 98, of Sulphur, Indiana passed over to Glory on February 18, 2024. Verna was born December 28, 1925 in Oriole, Indiana to Leslie and Minnie (Knieriem) Morlan.

Along with her parents, Verna is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Jim Smith; Sisters: Iris (Wilkes) Ballard and Betty (Morlan) Bureau; Brothers: Basil, Lovell, Denzil and Lowell Wilkes and Jimmy Morlan; 

She is survived by Sister: Patsy (Wilkes) Eckert of Birdseye; Sons: Wes(Mary Jo) Smith of Taswell and Les(Toye) Smith of Corydon; Grandsons: Rodney(Marcia) Smith of Floyds Knobs, Chris(Elizabeth) Smith of Georgetown, Mike(Tasha) Smith of Corydon and Jamie(Lisa) Smith of Taswell; Great-Grandchildren: Bailey(Gigi), Brent(Abigail), Toxey, Brooklyn, Ivy, Brady and Landon Smith, Ricky(Kristin) and Katie West, Jaelyn and Jenna Houchins; Great-Great Grandchildren: Achilles and Evelyn West and Stella Smith; Honorary Family: Jerry(Alice) Lutz of Sulphur

Verna attended Deuchars Elementary School and graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1943. She traveled to Indiana University in Bloomington on scholarship and ultimately completed Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education at Oakland City College and Indiana University. Verna began her teaching career at a one room school house known as the Wiseman School. She went on to teach at Grantsburg, English and Corydon spending most of her years teaching first grade. After retiring from teaching Verna went on to serve as Crawford County’s Juvenile Probation Officer. She was always active in church. She directed Bible Schools and church music programs. She even taught Sunday School until she was in her 90s. Verna played piano and organ for several churches throughout her life.

Verna was a Christian and while she would say she was not perfect we all thought she was pretty close. She loved the Lord and her family. She enjoyed reading and learning. She had a passion for kids and was born to teach. She was known to some as “Verna Marie”, to family as “Grandma Verna” and to many as “Mrs Smith, my favorite teacher”. Her steadfast faith, capacity to love and her positive attitude through trials has been an inspiration to us all. She will be sorely missed.

Funeral services will be on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Milltown, Indiana.  Interment will follow in the Riddle Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 4-8 p.m. and after 9:00 a.m. until time of the service at 11:00 a.m., all at the funeral home

Bro. George Key will officiate the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sulphur Pentecostal Church (SPC).

Brown-Newkirk Funeral Home in Milltown, Indiana is entrusted with the arrangements.

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