Verna Laws

VERNA VANETA HARRIS LAWS

January 25, 1920 - December 1, 2014

Earth’s loss became Heaven’s gain when Verna Vaneta Harris Laws passed away Dec. 1, 2014.  She is certain at this time to be enjoying a gloriously happy reunion with her Heavenly Father and many loved ones who preceded her in death, including her husband of 75 years and two of her four children.  The eighth of nine children born to Robert Cromwell Harris and Sylvia Green Harris, Verna was born in Portage, UT on Jan. 25, 1920.  Those greeting her must be thrilled to once again enjoy her smile, laughter, enthusiasm and loving disposition.

Portage was the perfect place for a young girl to grow up who enjoyed living life, including many seemingly small things.  Roaming the fields and hills, swimming and playing ball, attending Bear River HS, and sharing her fun sense of humor with friends and family, she endeared many and they in turn gathered around her and most left with a lighter heart.

This delightful gal from northern UT caught the eye of Douglas W. Laws of Malad, ID, they became sweethearts and were married in Portage on Feb. 22, 1938.  They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 16, 1940 and shared 75 years and two weeks as husband and wife.  Four children were born to this happy couple and after living briefly in Malad, Rexburg and Pocatello, ID, they spent nine years in
Tremonton, eventually settling in Layton, UT.

Verna was devoted to caring for her family and was an exceptional homemaker.  She often had a chocolate cake ready when the kids came home from school and her pies and cherry cobbler are legendary.  Long remembered will be the good times shared at home especially the Christmas parties and back-yard BBQ’s.  Her many other talents included sewing where she specialized in dresses for dolls and daughters and in hand-tied quilts.  She was often in demand to sign certificates and documents with her elegant penmanship.  She took up oil painting in her later years and her amazing artistic creations are cherished as they adorn the homes of her children and grandchildren.  Pink roses were favorite objects to paint.  She also painted her home pink inside and trim outside becoming the “pink Grandma” to her grandchildren.  The fact that Doug lived in a pink house with its lace curtains and many flowers attest to his love for Verna!  One of her greatest talents was sharing her time with others – often giving help, showing compassion and love to those who were sick or hurting in some way.  She could turn a gray day into sunshine.

A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Verna served in the Primary, Relief Society, and the Young Woman’s organizations.  She can share girl’s camp stories with the best of them.  She always enjoyed bantering with males, so her favorite church calling was being the leader of “her Blazer boys.”   She and Doug served as Ogden temple ordinance workers for four years.  She had a strong testimony of the gospel and willingly shared it.

Verna is survived by son, Doug Jr. (Lois) Laws of Perry; daughter Diane (Phil) Bangerter of Bountiful; daughter-in-law Bonnie Laws of Ogden, 15 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Denton Laws; daughter and spouse, Gloria and Robert Kay.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 at 10 am at the LDS chapel at 789 Wasatch Dr., Layton.  Friends may visit family Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Malad City, Idaho Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful CNAs and staff at Apple Village in Layton for their loving care of Verna over the past four years and to Curo Home Health and Hospice for their help to Mom.