Verna Kinnard
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Mother and Nana, Verna Louise (Cook) Kinnard, on Jan. 9, 2024. Verna Lou was born in Miami, Arizona, on April 21, 1937. The third of four children born to Thomas Lee and Josephine Cook, she had two brothers and one sister.
Verna grew up in the Gila Valley, Arizona area, attending school in Pima, Thatcher and, eventually, Globe High School. Early on, it was discovered she had the voice of an angel and a fierce love of music. She sang in choirs, played in marching bands and performed music throughout her life. During her senior year in high school, she competed for and won the title of Miss Gila County. She went on to place 2nd in the Miss Arizona Beauty Pageant. She graduated Globe High School in 1955, then attended Arizona State University, majoring in music. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Lamar Oliver Kinnard. She was the beauty queen; he was the athlete. They were married in Globe on Sept. 14, 1956. Two years later, in 1958, they had a daughter, Donna Ruth (Hudson). In 1962, they were blessed with a son, Randall Scott.
Verna Lou worked at the Miami-Inspiration Hospital & Clinic as an administrative secretary for several years. She switched to the legal profession, working for the office of Pete Deninno. In 1981, she and Lamar moved to Phoenix where she continued her secretarial career at the Law Offices of Burch and Cracchiolo. Upon retirement, the Kinnards decided to return to their beloved Globe-Miami area where she focused on her family, her faith and her music. She loved watching her great-granddaughters play sports. She could always be seen at the softball field, soccer field or volleyball court. After Lamar’s passing in 2014, she moved to San Tan Valley, where she lived with Donna and her husband, Ron, until her passing.
Verna Lou was preceded in death by her husband Lamar, her parents Jo and Lee Cook, her brother Jack, her brother Jim and his wife Louise, her sister Donna (Peterson), her grandson Joshua Kinnard and her great-grandson Richard Carter Hudson.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church, 2559 E. Combs Rd. in San Tan Valley.
Interment will be held at the Globe, Az. Cemetery, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
