A cast member of a traveling Vaudeville act in 1930s Velma E. Gary, 97, daughter of Isaac Brown and Margaret Manning Brown, was born on April 19, 1910, in Squires, Mo., and passed away Friday, March 28, 2008 in Christian Health Care, Republic.
She is survived by twin sisters, Veda Garland, Republic, and Naida Hartley, Ava, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Margaret Brown; husband, Joseph Gary; one sister, Lula Hicks; and five brothers, John, Everett, Clarence, Louis and Glenn.
Velma was a cast member of the traveling Weaver Brothers & Elviry Vaudeville act in the early 1930s. After moving to Chicago, she worked as a sales representative for several cosmetics companies: Elmo Sales, Peggy Sage, Dorothy Gray, DuBarry Division of Warner-Lambert, and Dana Products. In Springfield, Velma was a member of the Abou Ben Adhem-Band Aids, Shrine Ladies Club and Museum of the Ozarks. She also worked as a volunteer for Springfield Meals on Wheels.
Services for Velma were Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Glen Dale Hartley officiating. Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday from 1 p.m. to service time in the funeral home. The family requests memorials to the Alzheimers Association.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
