Verle M. Rhodes

Verle (Williams) Rhodes passed away early Tuesday morning September 6th at the Cherryvale Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where she had been living since 2011. Verle was born to John B. Williams and Hazel (Maxwell) Williams on August 15, 1924 in Ottawa, Kansas, Verle grew up on the family farm and attended school in Iola. She graduated from Iola High School followed by attending and receiving her teaching credentials from Pittsburg Kansas State Teachers College. She met and married Tommy (Buck) Rhodes of Moran in Iola, Kansas on December 28, 1946, following his service overseas in the United States Army during World War II. They made their home in Cherryvale in 1953 and while there Verle was a stay-at-home mom who supported her children's activities. She was a PTA member and home room mom from 1953 to 1968. A Bible School teacher at the First Presbyterian Church, a Brownie, Girl Scout, Cub Scout, 4-H Leader and shuttled her kids to every swimming, skating, sporting event they were involved in. The one activity she enjoyed exclusively to herself was bowling. She actively bowled in multiple Cherryvale leagues. Buck organized and coached the Buccaneers traveling girls' softball team which made Verle the unofficial team mom, driver, scorekeeper, and behind the scenes organizer for 15 years. In 1977, they moved to Haysville where they lived until retiring. While there, she and husband, Buck, rode their motorcycle in all the 48 contiguous states and Canada and through all 105 counties in Kansas. They were active member of several motorcycle organizations. True to herself she again continued bowling on multiple Hayesville bowling teams. In 1988 they retired to the family farm northeast of Iola. She continued her participation on Iola bowling teams. She was a member of the Iola American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church at Savonburg, Kansas until health prevented her continued participation. Verle was preceded in death by husband, Tommy K (Buck) Rhodes, infant son, Kenneth R. Rhodes, and daughter, Mary Jean Hammond-Langton. She is survived by her children Peggy Gragg and husband Mike of Grove, OK, Sue Rhodes of Grove, OK, and Roy (Stub)Rhodes and wife LuAnn of Cherryvale, KS. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Josh Hammond of New York, NY, Rachel (Rhodes) Merrick, husband Clayton and children Bethany and Caleb of Mound Valley, KS; Jerod Rhodes, wife Lindy and daughter Keira of Kansas City, KS; Jacob Rhodes of Joplin, MO; Matthew Rhodes of Cherryvale, KS Verle is also survived by extended family members: Richard "Shorty" Rhodes of Fosston, MN, Larry "Chick" Rhodes of Kansas City, MO, and Joyce Acton of Kansas City, KS Visitation will be 2:00-5:00 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service in Iola. Inurnment will be in the LaHarpe Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and may be left with the funeral home. Go to www.iolafuneral.com to leave a condolence online.