Verna Mae (McHenry) Pixley, age 76, of Northwood, was called to heaven Sunday, March 26, 2006, with her four loving children at her bedside. Verna Mae died at the Muse Norris Hospice Center, Mason City, after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 29,

at First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St., Northwood, with the Rev. Wayne Hagen officiating. Burial will be at the State Line Cemetery, Northwood. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the church.

Verna Mae McHenry was born Dec. 17, 1929, on the McHenry family farm west of Northwood. She was the second child of Leslie and Bertha (Johnson) McHenry.

Growing up during the Great Depression gave Verna Mae a sense of hard work, family devotion, and simple fun that stayed with her all of her life. As a little girl she spent many hours playing with her dog and visiting her grandmother who lived a short walk away. Verna went to school with people who remained her friends and neighbors; many were part of adventure stories of going to area dances, fairs, card club and saddle club events that she shared in total clarity in her later years. Verna Mae graduated with the Northwood Class of 1947.

Verna Mae married her high school sweetheart Robert (Bob) Pixley June 15, 1947. Except for a few years they were lifelong residents of Northwood and together they raised four children: Steven Dale, Susan Renea, Beverly Kay and Bruce Glenn. Verna was a strong, devoted mother and gave her children her unspoken devotion their entire lives. Above all, she cherished her family and always made her children’s and grandchildren’s birthdays and Christmas very special.

In 1961 Bob and Verna Mae moved their family to Osage where they owned Pixley’s East End Market until 1968 when they returned to Northwood. The couple shared a passion for children and enjoyed visiting with the families that came into their store, often caring for the children while the parents shopped. In 1968 Verna Mae began working at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood where she was a nurse’s aid for 29 years retiring in 1997. Verna Mae loved her job, the residents and her coworkers. She enjoyed all music and would sing to the residents while working and always had a smile and hug for everyone. We remember Verna Mae’s strong hands with the gentle touch. Verna Mae loved to shop, especially rummage sales, talk on the phone, and took the greatest pride in always having her home clean.

Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 58 years, Bob; her two sons Steven (Julie) of Harpers Ferry; and Bruce (Grace) of Grafton; two daughters Susan (Larry) Balek of Mason City and Bev Pixley of Mason City; her sister Virginia Thompson and brother Arlynn (Ruth) McHenry, mother-in-law Beva Pixley and sister-in-law Lillian Pixley all of Northwood. Verna Mae was blessed with nine grandchildren; Samuel Pixley, Winona, Minn.; Lezlea (Chris) Dahlke, Winona, Minn.; Katie Pixley, Arcata, Calif., Jackson Robert Pixley, Arcata, Calif., Andria Pixley, Northwood, Jay (Lauren) Balek, Mason City, Kyle (Heather) Pixley, Grafton, Jeff Balek, Mason City, and Marcus Pixley, Harpers Ferry. Her great-grandchildren also survive her; Caroline and Ava Dahlke and baby Pixley expected in the fall.

Verna Mae was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, father-in-law, Glenn Pixley and two brother-in-laws, John Thompson and John Pixley.

Thank you,

Mom, you will be greatly missed. Please watch over us from Heaven.