Velma Lyle Johnson Stout

We celebrate the life and commemorate the passing of Velma Lyle Johnson Stout who departed this life in Castle Rock, Colo., on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 4, 2010 at 3 p.m. at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise under the direction of Summers Funeral Home. Velma was born Oct. 3, 1927, the fifth daughter in a family of six daughters born to Helen and Rulon Johnson of Glenn's Ferry, Idaho. She grew up in Glenn's Ferry and graduated from Glenn's Ferry High School in 1944. Velma was a terrific athlete, participating in softball, volleyball, and girl's varsity basketball. She was also an outstanding student and active in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the school band where she served as drum majorette. Soon after Velma graduated from high school, she eloped with her sweetheart and life partner, Robert J. Stout. As with many wartime loves, she and Jay married just prior to his enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Upon Jay's discharge from the Navy in 1946, Jay and Velma began to manage the Stout Family Ranch in King Hill, Idaho, where together they lived a true western ranch life. During those years, Velma worked tirelessly at Jay's side to make the ranch a success, raising vegetables, helping brand cattle, milking, and of course keeping Jay and the ranchhands well-fed with her "larrupin‘" meals. In her spare time, she gave birth to daughter number one, Geridee Stout Farley, and daughter number two, Virginia Anne Stout Satterfield. In 1954, Velma and Jay and the girls moved to Boise where Jay began to build homes. Velma would do much of the wallpapering and woodwork staining to help Jay finish the homes. They usually built a home and lived in it as their "model" home before selling it and building another home. After building, occupying, selling, and moving from nearly 35 homes in 30 years, Velma often joked their routine spared her the chore of spring cleaning. During those early years in Boise, Jay and Velma added to their family another daughter, Deborah Jo Stout Edson, and a son, Robert J. Stout, Jr. Velma was a quite talented seamstress and sewed much of the clothing worn by her daughters. She was an avid and faithful supporter of her children's many and varied activities and did her very best to find that delicate and often elusive balance between wife, work partner, friend and parent. Velma and Jay cultivated many long-lasting friendships in Boise and dearly enjoyed playing bridge, hosting and participating in reciprocal dinners, and, of course, dancing. Together they cut a mean rug. Velma will be deeply missed but never forgotten as she passes to reunite with her Jay who previously departed on Sept. 1, 2004. Velma is survived by daughter Geridee Farley and her husband Don, Anne Satterfield and her husband Jay, Debby Edson and her husband Dave, and her son Robert J. Stout, Jr. She was loved and will be missed by her grandson Brandon Farley and his wife Drennen and great-grandchildren Colin and Banks; grandson Ryan Farley and his wife Bethany and great-grandchildren Jackson and Landry; granddaughter Shannon Edson Smith and her husband Tim and great-grandson Henry David; granddaughter Erin Satterfield Brill and her husband Matt; granddaughter Lauren Edson; grandson Tyler Satterfield; and grandson Jeth Stout. Velma leaves many lasting impressions and an indelible legacy to her family and friends. Above all, her perseverance and work ethic will endure, together with her energy, talent and wit. We were all better for having known Velma and now she is better for being reunited with the love of her life, Jay. Velma is survived by sister Geraldine Johnson Jones and was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Jay, and sisters, Rula, Ruth, Armral, and Jane. Memorial contributions in Velma's name may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or www.alz.org.