On January 25 we all lost Verna Woodrum, our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Auntie. Born Verna Belle Trussell on a farm near Orchard, Nebraska in 1927. She and her older sister Edith were raised by her parents, Samuel, and Mary Trussell. Verna would walk or take a ride on a neighbor's pony the one mile to elementary school.  When it snowed her father would take them with a team and wagon, and a comforter with hot bricks to stay warm. When she entered high school in Orchard, she had to stay with family in town during the week due to the distance from their home to town. Verna graduated high school in 1944 and began looking for a vocation: an operator at the telephone office, as a waitress, a meat wrapper at the creamery, a clerk in Gambles store, and driving a 18ft truck for her father.

Verna eventually set out west to Napa, California where her uncle and aunt lived. A gentleman staying with family across the street caught her eye and in 1952 Verna married Elmer Pershing Woodrum, an Army veteran and divorced father of one. That same year they both began working for the Department of the Navy in the nearby Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Starting as a clerk-typist, Verna retired 30 years later as a Budget Analyst.  Elmer and Verna enjoyed an adventurous life together in their working years with trips to Europe, and Hawaii, and owned a series of RV's where they enjoyed their time on the road camping with friends and family throughout the western states, Mexico, and Canada.

In 1982 Verna and Elmer began their retirement by traveling full time in their RV across the US for three years, finally settling in Grants Pass, Oregon. After many trips away from home, including making many friends while "snow birding" in Casa Grande, Arizona, they returned to full time traveling in 1997. In 2004 Verna and Elmer settled down in Salem Oregon. In total their travels had them visit 47 states, and several trips into Mexico and Canada. They enjoyed cruises in Alaska, Hawaii, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and river boat trips down the Mississippi, and from Hungary to the Netherlands.

After 60 years of marriage and 30 years of post-retirement adventures, Elmer passed in 2012. This same year, Verna relocated to be closer to her family in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Verna will be remembered by all who met her as having a loving smile, a nice word and an aura of grace and serenity. Always a calming presence, she was loyal and cared deeply for those in her family and friends alike. Verna was proud of her humble beginnings driving a truck for her father in rural Nebraska, to her successful career, and all her travels, but most of all: the many fun and laughter filled years with friends, family and her true love, Elmer.

The Woodrum family will always be grateful for the love and companionship she gave her husband, Elmer and all the fun and laughter along the way. She will always be the mother, grandmother, auntie, and baker of pies we could have ever wished for.

For her extended family, Verna held a special place in her heart for her niece, Sandra Rude and her family who loved Verna back as a dedicated and loyal auntie. She was always ready for an adventure and adored attending her grandnephews and grandnieces sporting events and music recitals. Verna loved camping with her Washington family, and especially long nights near the campfire. Over the last two years she especially enjoyed spending time with her great grandnephew.

Verna is survived by her stepson, Lon Woodrum and his wife Susan of Sausalito, California, and their son Casey Woodrum and wife Marnye of Seattle, Washington, her niece Sandra Rude of Mount Vernon, Washington, and many grandnieces and grandnephews making homes across Washington, Oregon, California, Nebraska, Texas, and Arkansas.

Verna's remains will be buried alongside Elmer in the Willamette National Cemetery in Oregon.