Verna Mae Miller MacQuarrie

Washington State native, Verna Mae Miller MacQuarrie, passed away with her daughter, Janice, at her bedside, early Saturday morning, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Cheney Care Center.

Verna was born near Oakesdale, Wash., to John and Mary Ann (Anna) Hall Miller, Nov. 11, 1911. After her mother's death when Verna was 4 years old, she lived with her grandmother in Spokane. She went to Holmes Elementary, graduated from North Central High School in 1930 and later from Kinman Business University. Instead of taking a civil service job in Washington D.C., she married Donald G. MacQuarrie, a farmer from Tekoa/Oakesdale Feb. 25, 1934. They lived and farmed near Oakesdale for 10 years. 

They were charter members of the Thornton Grange in 1938 and joined Eastern Star in 1943. Verna also belonged to Thorncreek Women's Club, played bridge, raised chickens, a cow or two and sold eggs and cream to buy groceries. During a one-year break from farming, they ran a motel in North Hollywood, Calif. They came back to their roots, buying a farm near Cheney in 1946.

After Don passed away in September 1966, Verna moved to Blackshaw Apartments. She loved to travel to Hawaii, Australia and the East Coast. Verna loved cooking for harvest crews, her friends and family gatherings, hosting many at the farm. She moved to Cheney Assisted Living in 2000 then to Cheney Care Center, 2008.

She is survived by her loving family, daughter Janice (Ernie) Preedy, Spangle; son Harvey (Carol), MacQuarrie, Cheney; grandchildren, Gail (Tom) Miller of Hong Kong; David (Natalie) Preedy of Denver, Colo.; Rusty (Kara) MacQuarrie Cheney and Patrick MacQuarrie, Spokane. She was known as "Granna," never Grandma and great Grana to Tyler Miller, Ava Miller, Justin (Ashley) Preedy, Pueblo, Colo., Chelsea (Josh) Norman, Riley MacQuarrie and Wyatt MacQuarrie, Cheney and two great, great-grandchildren Jack and Nolan Preedy and a step brother, Marshall Miller.

Memorials should go to Union Gospel Mission. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Jan. 10 at the Cheney Funeral Home at 1 p.m. and interment at the farm and Oakesdale Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at cheneyfuneral.com.