Obituary of Velva McCord

Velva McCordAug. 12, 1932 - June 21, 2014Velva McCord was born on Aug. 12, 1932, in Guthrie Center, Iowa, to Carl and Carmen Charter.She was the sixth child of nine children - five brothers and three sisters - who grew up on the small farm. Velva felt very lucky to have been raised through the 1930s and 1940s.Though the times were hard, they worked hard, yet always had plenty of time to play and kick back. They had large gardens - canned enough food for the winter. They grew potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips (quite a grocery store). They also went to the woodlands around them and picked wild strawberries, plums, gooseberries, black walnuts and hazelnuts.Their storm and vegetable cellar was about half a block from their house. It was used for storing the homegrown vegetables and as a place of safety during severe tornado warnings.Their herd of goats provided a plentiful amount of milk and cream for butter. They enjoyed meat from their chicken and turkeys, along with plenty of fresh eggs. The creamery truck came to the house to pick up cans of cream and cartons of eggs. Their livestock included two cows, four horses and many pigs.Velva remembered her clothes being made from empty printed sacks that had contained feed for the turkeys and chickens on the farm.Velva loved school and attended Union Number 8, a one-room schoolhouse with one teacher who taught all eight grades in Guthrie County. There were 20 to 26 children in all. Velva was not able to continue her high school education, as the school was 13 miles from their home and there was no bus service that far out.The first time Velva met Forrest McCord was while he was working at a service station.They were married on April 13, 1950, in Audubon, Iowa. They celebrated 51 years of marriage.They raised their three children in Atlantic, Iowa, and Brownsville, Oregon. Later they moved to Newport.In early years Velva worked as a seamstress upholster. She also sewed for others from her home and was an exceptional seamstress. Velva retired from JC Penneys after 18 years of employment. She worked as a sales clerk, floor supervisor and partial store manager.Velva's hobby was her family. She enjoyed being the Girl Scout leader for both Patricia and Sandra, in addition to working with the Boy Scouts.Velva joyfully volunteered as a children's Sunday School teacher, and was involved in youth groups while living in Atlantic, Iowa. She directed skits for the church's Easter and Christmas programs in her early years. She also delivered food baskets to the needy the week prior to Christmas.A passion of Velva's was her involvement in the American War Mothers, which was organized in 1917. Membership was limited to women who were U.S. citizens and had a child who served in the U.S. Armed Forces; Velva had two children who served. She was president of the local chapter for years and later served as state president. The group's volunteer work covered many areas, but mainly they worked with the disabled veterans.Velva's involvement in the American War Mothers included two trips to national headquarters in Washington, D.C., for ceremonies honoring the unknown soldiers. Each American War Mother there was escorted by military soldiers to place white carnations on the Grave of the Unknown Soldiers. Velva felt this was a great honor.After moving to Corvallis, Velva faithfully worshiped at the Corvallis Church of the Nazarene and later Grant Avenue Baptist Church. Her love of the Lord radiated from her life. Her most important desire was for all to know her Lord and Savior.Velva went home to be with her Lord on June 21, 2014, in Corvallis. She was surrounded by her family and friends.She is survived by her daughters, Patricia (husband Ron Enck) of Corvallis and Sandra Sather of Jefferson; brothers, John, Bill, Owen and Walter Charter; sister, Wilma Jane Christensen; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Carmen Charter; son, Kenneth McCord; sisters, Louise Charter and Mildred Hanson; and brother, Harrison Charter.Visitation is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, at West Lawn Memorial Funeral Home in Eugene. Viewing will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27, at Grant Avenue Baptist Church, 1625 NW Grant Ave. in Corvallis, prior to a funeral service at 11 a.m. A graveside committal will follow at 2 p.m. at West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 225 S. Danebo Ave., Eugene, OR 97402.Memorial contributions can be made to Healing Hearts Ministry, P.O. Box 2265, Corvallis, OR 97339; or Benton Hospice Service, 2350 N.W. Professional Drove, Corvallis, OR 97330.Arrangements have been entrusted to West Lawn Memorial Funeral Home. Please access the obituary, and you are invited to sign the guestbook, at musgroves.com.