Emma Verneal Love

Emma Verneal Love, 85, died Dec. 27, 2003, at Moore-Few Care Center. She was born Feb. 28, 1918, to Charles Ellis and Cora Amelia Simmons Maggard on a farm that her father homesteaded in Washington county in the eastern part of Colorado near Denova, which consisted of a post office and a country grocery store.

It was on this place that she grew up. At the age of thirteen, she became her father's right hand helper until her brother was old enough to take her place.

She graduated from Washington County High School "High Prairie" in May 1936. She served as a leader for a girls 4-H club sewing class in her younger years. After leaving home, she worked as a sales clerk in Fort Morgan, Colo., for a few years before her marriage to Joseph Jacob Love on May 12, 1954, at Fort Morgan, Colo. As he was a farmer near Mansfield, Washington, they lived there until moving to Pleasant Hill, Mo., in the fall of 1957 where they farmed until moving to Nevada, Mo., in the spring of 1963. Here they raised livestock and farmed. She enjoyed farm life and loved nature. The beauty of it lifted her spirits many times. After retiring from farm life, she worked in the kitchens of the Nevada schools for several years. Needlework was a great hobby of hers.

She was a member of the Community of Christ and was active in church life, serving as a women's leader, church school director, teacher of classes and Zion League leader. She also did guide work at the church historical sites in Nauvoo, Ill.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph, of Nevada; two sons, Aaron L. Love and his wife Brenda, Lee's Summit, Mo., Arlyn R. Love and his wife Lauri, Lamoni, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Emily, Gregory, Meredith and Patrick Love, Lee's Summit, Mo., and Melena, Paul, Travis and Audrey Love, Lamoni, Iowa; a brother, Blaine Maggard, Yuma, Colo.; three sisters, Norma Thim, Akron, Colo., Gwenyth Rantschler, Englewood, Colo., and Marsalie Perry, Aurora, Colo. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Funeral services will be Monday, 3 p.m., at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with Elder Tom Pyle officiating. Interment will follow in the Newton Burial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community of Christ in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel.