Vera Valeda Hunt

Vera Valeda Hunt, age 93, of Iola, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at the Allen County Regional Hospital, Iola, Kansas. Vera was born on April 18, 1925, at the family home in Mildred, Kansas, to Charles F. Thompson and Pearl Ewing Thompson.  She attended school in Mildred. Vera met and married Luther E. Doane, Jr.  He was killed in action on April 16, 1945, on Mount Tosca, Italy.  Vera later met and married Lewis Amos Hunt on May 14, 1947, in Ottawa, Kansas.  Three children were born to this union, Frances Irene, Jimmy Lee, and Mary Lou.  Jimmy Lee died within 24 hours of birth. Vera was very active in her church.  She served as both pianist and organist at the Community Baptist Church for over 60 years. Vera loved to crochet.  She donated many lap robes to the Iola nursing homes and to the veterans’ home in Winfield, Kansas.  She crocheted the dress for a Miss America doll and won a blue ribbon for it at the Allen County Fair.  Vera was an avid gardener and kept several neighbors and church members supplied with excess vegetables from her garden. Vera worked at the Majestic Motel, Thompson Poultry, and retired from the Allen County Hospital’s laundry and housekeeping department in March, 1990, after working there for many years. One of the biggest highlights of Vera’s life was receiving a phone call in 1992 from the Young and Restless actress, Melody Thomas Scott, telling her that she had won a contest that Vera entered because their birthdays were on the same day.  After talking with Vera, Melody told her she was shipping her the piano she had learned to play when she was younger.  It was quite a thrill when the moving van delivered the piano!  Vera kept the piano until 2014 when she entered Windsor Place.  She donated the piano to Rev. Ingle’s church in Iola. Vera was preceded in death by her two husbands; her infant son; her parents; all three siblings, Emmett, Pauline, and Floyd; and one granddaughter, Lisa Byers. Vera is survived by her two daughters, Frances Scearce, Iola, Kansas, and Mary Lou Byers and husband, Mike, Iola, Kansas; one grandson, Michael Byers and wife, Michelle, Crofton, Maryland; three great-grandchildren, Stephen Byers, Matthew Byers, and Sarah Byers, all of Crofton, Maryland. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, 2018, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Iola, Kansas.  A funeral service honoring Vera’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, 2018, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Iola, Kansas.  Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF), and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola, Kansas.  The family appreciates your acts of kindness, but requests no food. Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .