Vennette "Vee" E Edmisson

Vennette Elizabeth Edmisson “Vee” was born August 4, 1921 in Meade County Kansas seven miles south of Fowler Kansas to George and Flora Katterjohn Springer. She was the youngest of 8 children. They lived on a farm in Meade County until Vennette was 5 and they moved to Preston Kansas where Vennette attended school in Preston through the 10th grade. Her father, George, operated a grocery store in Preston until the latter part of the 1930’s when he moved the family to Lyons Kansas where they purchased an apartment house. Vennette attended Lyons High School and graduated in 1939. While in high school she served as the drum majorette for the marching band and enjoyed being a member of the choir. Following graduation she worked for the AAA office in Lyons and attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson. In 1942 she enrolled in the nurses training program in Dodge City KS at Murray Hospital. On February 7, 1942 a young man by the name of James Burtrom Edmisson “Jim” was brought to the hospital with multiple injuries and a broken leg due to a car accident. It just so happened that Vennette was one of the nurses on duty that night. Vennette took care of Jim for the next 10 weeks during his recovery in the hospital. On April 15, 1942, when Jim was dismissed from the hospital, he took his nurse with him. Jim and Vee were married May 1, 1942 in Englewood KS after a 10 week “courtship” in the hospital. They were married in a double wedding ceremony with their friends Keith and Hazel Koehn. Jim and Vee often joked about how they never even had a date before they got married. Their married life began with Jim in a cast, he didn’t have a job or a car but he had something more important, he had the woman he would be married to for 74 years. The couple did not let any obstacle stand in their way as they began their new life together. The couple welcomed their first child, Tanya Janice on June 21, 1943. Two other children soon arrived, Janet Lee on July 21, 1946 and James Chad (J.C.) in December 1949. Vee was kept busy with raising and caring for her family. There were several moves for the family from Kansas to California and back. They settled in Englewood KS where they purchased a small farm with 40 acres and a farm house. Vee and Jim worked side by side as they remodeled the house and tended to their farm while Jim worked at the elevator and Vee worked as a mother and housewife. Three more children arrived. A set of twins Dena Beth and Dana Burt were born on June 15, 1956 and Roxann on August 29, 1958. Vee was a woman who could make something out of nothing. She sewed on a treadle sewing machine until her parents gave her a new Singer sewing machine. She became an amazing seamstress and kept all of her children in clothes, Halloween costumes, cheerleading uniforms, and prom dresses. She mended, patched and repaired all of the families clothing, nothing went to waste. She made the best chicken and noodles for her family. Of course, she raised the chickens and insisted that all of the kids help with the butchering, whether they wanted to or not. Watching her measure the water for the dough using half of the eggshell and roll out the dough and cut the noodles is a fond memory. She played the piano and entertained audiences at church and school programs. She ran the local swimming pool, loved camping with her family and taught her kids to water ski. She was still water skiing at the age of 65. The years took Jim and Vee many places as they raised their children. Vee often worked outside the home in retail businesses but always considered being “mom” as her first priority. She loved to bowl, knit, crochet, sew, read and she loved music. Her bowling team attended State and National competitions throughout her life which allowed her to travel to San Antonio and Northern Colorado. In 1973 Jim and Vee landed in Baca County where Jim became the manager of People Credit Union. Again, Vee helped Jim balance at the Credit Union on a part time basis. . The couple retired in 1984 and became “winter Texans” in Zapata Texas. They enjoyed their retirement years traveling, fishing, and playing cards, dancing and reconnecting with old friends who also came to Zapata for the winter. Over the past 14 years, and after selling their property in Texas, they arrived back in Kansas and Colorado to be closer to family. In January 2016 Vee and Jim made “The Legacy” in Lamar their home. In March 2016, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She discussed her options for treatment of the cancer with her family and made the decision to not seek any type of treatment or rely on any artificial form of nutrition to support her life. She was ready to go “home”. On July 5, 2016 at 3:40 p.m. she was called to her eternal resting place. Jim, her partner of 74 years was by her side. We will miss her fried dill pickles, playing board games and cards with her, listening to her play the piano, watching KU basketball with her, her hand crafted gifts and hearing her say, “well, crab apple peach butter”. Rest in peace, sweet mother. Vee is survived by her husband Jim Edmisson of Lamar (Former manager of The People’s Credit Union of Springfield), her 6 children, Tanya Rojas of Iowa, Janet Isenbart of Kansas, J.C. Edmisson of Kansas, Dana (Zach) Barker of Kansas, Dena Utt of Texas, and Roxann (Rick) Porter of Springfield, She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members. Vee requested cremation, and a family celebration will be held in her memory at a later time. If you would like to express your sympathy, the family would appreciate donations be sent to Lamar Area Hospice Association, 108 West Olive St., Lamar, CO 81052, in Vee’s memory.