February 27, 1947 – January 7, 2025
THE CRAZY CAT LADY
Birthdate: Feb. 27, 1947. As her sister, Andria Melham, I always teased her that she was six and a half years OLDER than me. Which usually got me smacked or at least a really dirty look … but all in fun.
Birthplace: Holden, Missouri. Daughter of Ralph and Leota (Sumner) Day. She enjoyed Holden except that is where she had her first car wreck which broke her jaw, then had to be wired shut for weeks. But ended with her being “forced” to drink shakes and malts … such a hard thing to deal with … lol.
Current Home: As of Jan. 7, 2025, she is with her best friend Jesus, and I’m sure, enjoying playing with all her Kitties that crossed the rainbow bridge ahead of her. She has lived in Concord, Pittsburg, Antioch and Walnut Creek, California; Kingsville, Holden, and most recently Kearney, Missouri. Her favorite place was California and she always planned to return. She lived in the Kearney Senior Housing complex for around 14 years. She loved the neighbors and friends she met there, especially on the Thursday potlucks. She really appreciated her very special nurse Stephanie, and all her caregivers from FOCUS plus so many helpful neighbors and friends.
Family: Vera is survived by two children, David Matthew Johnson and Paula Michelle Johnson Hopkins and husband Tony, plus three grandchildren, Aniah and Kole Johnson and Kameron Hind. She also leaves her sister/caregiver, Andi and husband, Bruvie Jim Melham, and their children, Jon and Greg. She was especially close to her Uncle Dan and Aunt Carolee. She also had fun texting her cousin, Ricky Mullen, in the wee hours of the night.
Her daughter, “Shelli” wrote: When mommies go to heaven, it’s really hard. Seeing my children feeling this pain is the hardest part. She adopted so many but my children were her greatest joy. Cremation was her choice. She wanted every usable part of her body to go to someone that needed it. She wanted Shasta daisies and fruit or nut trees planted in her honor. Please pray for all her friends that already miss her so much and me. She was the most wonderful woman in the world. Thank you Jesus, she is free from pain. I miss you Momola. Thank you for everything you taught us. (Note: Her ashes will be “Planted” by Shelli’s husband Tony into a rose bush or garden. Her wish was to continue living by helping something else to grow.)
Occupation: Various electronic jobs in California, Park College (now University) Switchboard Operator/Trainer and “Mom” to almost all the students in Parkville, Missouri. Chauffer driver for the Railroad taking the workers to and from their train stations. (During one trip she went blind
while driving which was the first indication that she was a Diabetic. She was able to stop safely and the riders got her help.) She soon found she was a Type 2 Diabetic, but as the years progressed it changed to a Type 1 Brittle Diabetic which was next to impossible to control. This led to many health problems. Her best friend, Robin, helped her through the pains and problems through the years and across the miles. Robin wrote “Last night I lost someone who was like a Mom to me when I was just a teen in Parkville. She watched out for me when no one else did, and has been supportive of my writing everywhere, especially in the comments lol. The poem, Acceptance, was one of her favorites. Fly free, Mom. Rest In Peace.”
Calling: Her son, David Matthew Johnson, said she had a special “calling” that many did not understand. The following are his words about his
precious Mother.
“Everyone thinks their mother is a saint. She’s the infallible first face you ever see in your life, the first smile to come into focus when your innocent blue eyes adjust to a new world. But unlike most babies’, mom’s eyes never changed from blue. She kept them her entire life, and until her last day, she continued to view the world as new and beautiful. This was the saint who bore me, shaped me and taught me to try and see the world the same way. The old song says “mama tried” and indeed, my mama tried to raise a good boy. She never saw me as anything different. Always my biggest fan, even when I thought she shouldn’t be, she never deviated.
It’s hard to put down a few sentences to convey such a loss, especially under duress, surprised at an absence you were not expecting. I will tell you now, it is completely impossible for me to convey how much I love my mother … No passage on a page or a screen will ever convey that. It is an endeavor I wish on no one.
My mother was an idealist, a dreamer. She was irrational and silly. Everyone always told her she should be more cynical, that she should get her head out of the clouds. But the truth is, the world is full of cynical, conforming, normative people. They sprout like grass. They live uneventful lives. They die uneventful deaths. They sour on an unfair world around them. They do their duty, just like those before and after them, like good folks do.
But my mother was a moonflower. There’s nothing particularly rational or sensible about a moonflower. It doesn’t have much of a sense for self-preservation. It briefly blooms, faces the moon and longs for love. It doesn’t endure, but it’s a lot more interesting. It leaves a mark. It’s rare and beautiful and to witness it is something special. Not many saw my mother in her full regalia, but those who did, never forgot it.
My mother was beautiful. She shined in color above the bland. She didn’t want the light on her. She wanted you to shine your own and she wanted you to know just how much she knew you could. She’d make you believe it.
If you ever got to spend any time with her, she gifted you with her empathy, tolerance, and sense of justice. She had an unwavering belief that, for the most part, there was good in everyone. “Judge not lest you be judged” was big for her. But even more, I’d say it just never occurred to her to judge anyone.
I know … “Saint Mom”. I get it. But for all she was and all she was not, she was always that to me. You have your beliefs, and I’ll have mine. Mom taught me that, too. “
Education: Vera attended Mount Diablo High School in Concord, California. She took hundreds of online courses and received certificates of completion from many various groups. However, her greatest “education” came from loving and teaching her Grandkids. The following are words from her granddaughter, Aniah Johnson, and grandson, Kole Johnson. Both of whom loved her very much.
“My grandma Vera was one of the most important people in my life. For as long as I can remember, she’s showered me with love and affection in every way possible. I thank God for every day and every hour I got to spend with her. Even with miles separating us, and time pulling us apart, I’ve always felt the love. Her favorite flower were daisies, very fitting to her personality. Yellow matched the vibrance of her spirit perfectly. She taught me so much about love and kindness. White matched the purity of her soul. She never wished anything bad on anyone, her intentions were always pure. Over the years I got to spend with her I learned many things about life. How to be grateful, to be kind, and how to love. These are lessons I’ll carry with me forever. Although my brother wasn’t able to spend as much time with her as I did, he said he felt the same way and loved visiting with her over the phone or text.
Love Always, Aniah & Kole”
Favorite Activity: Although she hated playing games, (didn’t like to lose), she loved doing crafts of just about any kind. She was a gifted artist but never thought her paintings and drawings were “good enough”. Her latest was making jewelry. If you happened to say you liked something that she had created, you would soon find it in your mailbox or hands. She wanted to sell on the Marketplace but found it more fun to just give it away. Her most favorite activity was sharing with family, friends and mostly her grandkids. Eating in Chinese Restaurants, or Taco Bell or Chipotles were her favorite pastime. But a good Cheesecake was a delicacy she wanted any time her blood sugar would let her, but usually only got one on her birthday. She also loved “cop shows” and stayed up most of every night watching them and playing with her jewelry. So wondering if they’ll have those in heaven … humm.
Prized Possessions: Vera was a crazy Cat Lady. All her T-shirts said so. If you can call a cuddly fur baby a possession, then her cats were her most
prized ones. Her Facebook and most friends were Cat people. She “got to know” almost anyone that had a cat no matter how small or how wild. At one time she did have five cats but living in an apartment she could only have one. She was blessed with kitties that seemed to know when she was having trouble with her blood sugars and would wake her up or meow at her until she took care of it.
Favorite Things: She adored her squirrel “Velcro”. He came to her as a baby with a lost mommy. She raised him until he could care for himself and then taught him how to live outdoors. When she released him, he would often come back and say hello. She also loved her sister and would often text or say “Have I told you today that I love you?” Her texting will be missed tremendously as will she. We loved going places together when we were both feeling good. Once a long time ago, we were actually mistaken for twins. That gave us all a good laugh, my how times change.
Message from Vera to all she loved and will miss her.
She entered this on her Facebook page on Dec. 31, 2024. Maybe she knew her time was close.
BYE FOR NOW
By Heather Spears Kallus
Goodbye seems so final – seven letters in a row,
“Bye for now” feels better – this I do know.
When parting ways from this earth or simply for the day,
Bye for now is comforting – that I must say.
Bye for now provides a chance to meet again somehow,
To give or get another hug – that time, it will allow.
Bye for now offers hope to all the ones we love,
That simple phrase might be a gift directly from above.
Days can feel oh so long, but years are short indeed,
Ask anyone who’s lost a love – “Just one more day,” we plead.
All the memories in our hearts, tucked away, we keep,
Special ones leave a mark, one that’s surely deep.
So, let’s not say goodbye. Let’s change the way we part,
Let’s say, “Bye for now.” It’s softer on the heart.
Whether it is in a text, long e-mail, or note,
Let it be remembered – bye for now is what we wrote.
Or when our time on earth has met its final date,
It’s bye for now, not goodbye – see you at The Gate!
Bye for now, my wonderful, crazy, loving sister.
She passed from complications of COVID, her heart and Diabetes. Cremation was performed by Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home of Kearney, Mo. The family invites you to leave your condolences and your favorite stories or comments concerning Vera.
Vera hated funerals and said she would come back to haunt me if I held one for her. So, no services are planned, but your comments and memories will be welcome on the website so family and friends can recall her special life.
