Verna Gray

Verna Idler Gray, 93, formerly of Charles City, passed away on January 13, 2020, at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 16, at 11AM at CrossWay Church, 3058 10th Ave. N, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Visitation will be at the church from 10-11 before the service. A graveside committal service on January 16 will be at 3:30 pm at Sunnyside Memory Gardens, in Charles City Iowa. Pastor Scott Hatton will officiate.

Verna Berdine Klinehart was born May 9, 1926, in New Hampton, Iowa, to Martha and Ernest Klinehart. She graduated from Nashua High School, attended Upper Iowa University, and taught country school 4 years. In 1948, she married Leighton Idler. They lived in Charles City and raised 2 daughters, Connie and Julie. Through the years she was a Brownie scout leader, Sunday School teacher, member of the Red Cross gallon club, Pink Lady, hospice volunteer, and an active volunteer in many other community and church organizations. When her girls graduated, she worked as a physical therapy assistant for 16 years. She loved to crochet, paint ceramics, and do other crafts. After Leighton’s death, she married Darrell (Bud) Gray in 1995. In 2012, she moved to Fort Dodge after living 60 years in the same house in Charles City. She was the oldest member of Crossway Church in Fort Dodge. She loved the Lord through her life, and believed firmly in the power of prayer.

She was proceeded in death by Leighton and Bud, her daughter, Julie Rice, infant grandson, Gerald M White, infant great-granddaughter Evelyn Cianciolo, and brother Roy Klinehart.

Verna is survived by daughter, Connie (Frank) Francis, Fort Dodge, grand-daughters Tracy Reitmeier (Adam) Albertsen, Cedar Rapids, and Rebecca Reitmeier( Shane) Cianciolo, Fort Dodge and two great-grandsons, Cooper Cianciolo and Aiden Albertsen. Also surviving are son-in-law Alfred Rice, Phoenix, AZ, sisters-in-law Marlys Klinehart, Cedar Falls, and Ardyth (Rollie) Juhlin, Fairmont, Minnesota. Her “second family”includes Jean and Bob Bennett, Storm Lake, and their children Jason (Amanda) Bennett, Sioux Falls, and Beth(Will) Powers, Sioux City, and their grandchildren, Ian and Zowie Bennett, and Maddy and Kole Powers.

Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Fort Dodge is in charge of arrangements.