Verlie McCarrel

Our loving mother, grandmother and aunt, Verlie Veronica Anderson Stringham McCarrel, earned her heavenly dancing shoes on December 20, 2018, less than two months shy of her 100th birthday.

Verlie was born February 5, 1919 to Walter and Phidelia Anderson in Deep Creek, Utah. She was the 11th of 12 children. She grew up in Dragon and Vernal surrounded by good friends and family. When she was a teenager, she caught the eye of Ken Stringham. A few short years later the pair ran off and were married. Together they raised Kary, Sharee and Kenny while herding sheep and later running Ken’s Sporting Goods. After Ken’s death, Verlie found love, and a new dance partner, again with Aubrey (Mac) McCarrel.

Verlie was no stranger to hard work. She always saw that the job got done, even if that meant climbing on the cabin to re-shingle the roof while Ken slept inside. She loved to garden and was constantly busy. When she could no longer garden, she reluctantly made the transition to “supervisor” and made sure the workers (aka her grandchildren) knew exactly where to put each plant.

As hard as she worked, Verlie played. She was an avid golfer and could out-drive and putt most players on the course. She loved to bowl and her son, Kenny, said he never could beat her score. Her passion, however, was dancing. She loved the Friday night dances at the Golden Age Center. She even went dancing there on her 95th birthday.

Verlie was the epitome of strength and selflessness. She was tougher than nails with the most gorgeous and compassionate soul. She never dwelled on the darkness of life. Instead, she simply smiled and kept moving forward. She was constantly putting the needs of others before her own. She volunteered over 30 years as a Pink Lady at Ashley Regional Medical Center, logging over 8,600 volunteer hours. She made hundreds of baby blankets for patients and family members, and any recipient of a blanket can attest it was made with 100% pure love.

You couldn’t meet Verlie without being overcome by her warmth and spirit. She always made you feel as though you were the most important person in the world to her; because that’s truly how she felt. Her memory was second to none. She could tell you without hesitation stories from her youth, who an unidentified person in a picture was, or what any of her grandchildren were doing. A visit to Grandma Verlie’s house was never complete without a hug and kiss from her, and a treat from the “Sheep Cookie Jar”.

Verlie was preceded in death by her parents, 11 siblings, son Kary, and husbands Ken Stringham and Mac McCarrel.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharee Mohar and son Kenny Stringham, both of Vernal, Utah, her McCarrel children, Linda (Pat) Hendrickson, Penny (Robert) Braithwaite, Rod (Janet)McCarrel and George Ann (Mike) VanderLinden, 25 grandchildren, and numerous great, great-great, great-great-great grandchildren/nieces/nephews (in complete honesty, we lost count. However, Grandma Verlie knew the exact number).

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Vernal Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (100 N 850 W). A viewing will be at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary on Thursday, December 27 from 6-8 p.m., with a viewing at the church 9:45-10:45 prior to services. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a check donation to the Pink Ladies Auxiliary, 150 W. 100 N. Vernal, UT 84078.

   Under the care and direction of the Blackburn & Sons Vernal Mortuary & Cremation Care.