Verna Elizabeth Emery

Verna Elizabeth Emery, 99, passed away in her sleep on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Verna was born August 29, 1926, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles Penrose Murphy and Anna Elizabeth (Achuff) Murphy. She grew up in West Chester and Wilmington, Delaware. While in Wilmington, she met her husband, Alden Emery, on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. After further successful dates, often at jazz clubs in the Philadelphia/Wilmington corridor, they were married March 1, 1952. They moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1954, where they raised their family.
Verna had a thirst for knowledge and a passion for thoughts well-expressed. According to her mother, as a child she had her nose perpetually buried in a book. She loved words and found ways to employ them throughout her youth, from writing plays to be enacted by her grade school companions to serving as the editor of her high school newspaper. She graduated as valedictorian but due to family financial pressures was unable to attend college until later in life. When she did, she characteristically immersed herself in her studies, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in American & English Literature in 1970 (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).
Verna then went to work at the Purdue University Office of Publications, soon moving to the Purdue University Press where she served as Managing Editor from 1977 until her retirement in 1990. Upon her retirement, the Press established the Verna Emery Poetry Prize, and in 1991 the Purdue College of Liberal Arts recognized her with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Verna was dearly loved by her family. She found joy in her roles of Mom, Grammie, and Aunt Verna, nurturing her family with her generous love and thoughtful graciousness. Although she good-naturedly lamented her lack of grandmotherly cookie-baking skills, she provided warmth and comfort to her family in ways far more important. And indeed, many happy moments were spent crowded in the kitchen sharing in meal preparations-on special occasions, sharing in the preparations with a glass of sherry in hand.
Verna is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Alden Hayes Emery, Jr., and her brother, David Samuel Murphy. She is survived by her daughter Janice (Geoffrey Walters) and her son Gregg; her grandsons Adam Emery, Brian Emery (Erin), and Evan Walters; and her great-granddaughter Harper Emery.
Donations in honor of Verna may be directed to Lafayette Urban Ministry. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date¬-and there will be chocolate, another of her passions.