Verna Almira Corry

CORRY, VERNA ALMIRA, 90
Ocala - She once said she would never go anywhere without an invitation, but Verna Almira Corry, 90, was invited to the next life, and gracefully accepted in the early hours of the morning of May 6, 2011. She was born in Canada on June 25, 1920 to Myrtle and Norman Fenby, the third of four children. As a young woman, she moved to Dayton, Ohio, and worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base where she met her future husband, William Adair Corry, whom she married on November 27, 1944 following a brief engagement. She was proudly naturalized as an American citizen on December 24, 1946, and spent the next four decades in Toledo, Ohio raising her family. She moved to Florida in 1986. Her lively character captivated generations of friends, family, neighbors, children and grandchildren. She had charisma, flair and an unwavering sense of style, gravitating always toward the brightest of colors, glitteriest of embellishments and the flashiest of flowers. Verna loved a lively party, basking in the sun, a great garage sale, a winning hand of bridge, true life murder mysteries and anything on sale. In true character, she fought with an unflagging intensity for life and independence right through her very last days on this earth. She lives on through her children: Grier and Rick (Michelle) Corry; her grandchildren: Eric, Zack, Michael, Doug, Emily, Danielle and Kyle; her great-grandchildren: Emily, Tommy, Anna, Adam, Anderson and Jenna; her dear adopted family: Sam, Phil, Reagan and Austie Matthews; and her special friends: Mary, David and Natalie. She was preceded in death by her first-born son, John Adair Corry and the two great loves of her life: her husband Bill Corry and dear friend and partner, John Toole. As was her wish, Verna's ashes will be laid to rest in the clear, gentle waters of Lake Hamilton and Lake Michigan in non-traditional ceremonies. A private celebration of Verna's life was held on May 11, 2011 at the home of friends. "Today, the light shines like the sun through her skin and when we ask what she did with her life, we will remember a thousand moments with a smile and will proudly say 'she was one of us.'"