Vera Ferne (Blacker) Rockwell

Vera Feme Rockwell was born November 11, 1918, to Blaine Calvin Blacker and Margaret Hannah Colson Blacker at their home near Vemon and she passed away at Hillcrest Care Center, April6, 2012, at the age of 93 years.

Blaine and Margaret had moved to their farm near Vernon following their wedding in Kansas in 1914.  When Vera was born, she was welcomed by her older sister Geneva and they were later joined by their brother Ross. They all attended school at Riverside country schooL Every two years the family traveled by train to visit relatives in Kansas. In 1926, they drove for the first time, in their new Model T Touring car. As a child, Vera really enjoyed her mother’s  garden, which included a bench and a lily pond.

Geneva and Vera attended high school in Eckley.  They boarded in Eckley during the week and returned to their home on weekends.  Vera graduated from Eckley High School in 1937, and was salutatorian of her class. She was awarded a scholarship to the Grand Island Business School in Grand Island, Nebraska, but her parents thought it was too far from home.

Her frrst date was with her husband to be, Samuel Glenn RockwelL They were married in the Eckley Manse on December 1, 1937. Their first home was a very modest dwelling near the Blacker home.  On occasion, part of the house served as grain storage. Their daughter, Bema Kay was born in 1938 and three years later they moved to a rented farm south of Eckley, where Dwight Alan was born in 1945.  Vera was a very busy farm wife, raising chickens, milking cows and always growing a large garden.  In 1951 Glenn and Vera purchased the August Hesse farm and lived there until they moved to Wray in 2004. They traveled during those years to destinations including: Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska and nearly all of the remaining states.  They formed many lasting friendships during their travels.

Vera was very active in the community, which included the Socialite Club, the Meadowlark Extension Club, 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher.  The family attended the Eckley Community Church and later Glenn and Vera joined the United Methodist Church in Wray.

Vera was an extraordinary mother, always finding ways to broaden educational opportunities for her children and looking out for their welfare in every way.  Glenn and Vera loved having the grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their home celebrating Christmas, Easter and birthday parties.  Vera was a wonderful cook and homemaker. Glenn passed away in April, 2007 after 69 years of marriage.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Glenn; grandson, Darin A. Renzelman; grandson-in-law, Frank Zink Jr.; sister, Geneva Wakefield; brother, Ross Blacker; brother-in-law, Clem Rockwell and wife Maxine; brother-in-law  Clayton Rockwell and wife Eileen; sister-in-law, Betty Rockwell; sister-in-law, Dorothy Rockwell; sister-in-law Lucille Rockwell; sister-in-law Lucile Scrivner and husband Vernon; sister-in-law Erma Debold and husband Bill.

Survivors include, daughter, Bema Kay Renzelman and husband Argil; son Dwight Alan and wife Nancy; granddaughter Renee Miller, and husband Shawn, and her children Brittany and Brandon Zink; grandson, Douglas Renzelman and wife Robin and their daughter Kenzie; grandson, Jeffrey Rockwell and wife, Mandy and their children Jordan and Torrie of Greeley; and grandson, Andrew Rockwell and wife Becky and their children, Zachary and Madison, of Peoria, Illinois;  brother-in-law, Jack Wakefield of Yuma; brother-in-law, John Rockwell, of Omaha, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Dallas Rockwell of Aurora; and sister-in-law, Anna Mae Stults of Loveland, CO; step­ grandchildren Alexandra, Ashlynne, Zach and Matt Miller of Yuma, CO, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Norman Stott officiating. Interment was held in the Eckley Cemetery in Eckley, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Care Center or the Wray United Methodist Church. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.