Velma Mae Grimes
1931 - 2020
Velma Mae Grimes, 89, of Westmoreland, Kansas, formerly of Woodston and Norton, died Monday, December 21, 2020, at the Onaga Community Hospital.
She was born on November 28, 1931, at home in Paradise Kansas, the daughter of ArneyLee and Maude Louise (Dwinelle) Hoopes. She went to 12 years of school at Paradise and graduated in 1950. She then moved to Russell, Kan. and worked at Duckwalls store for one year.
Her mom bought a café in Paradise and she worked for her until she got married on September 13, 1953, to James O. Grimes from Woodston, Kansas. She met James through friends, Don and Joan McCall. Don worked in Woodston under Roger Hoisington Wholesale. While he was in Paradise, he ate lunches at Velma’s mom's café. Don said he had a short, fat, rich friend (James) that he wanted to set her up with. After her marriage to James, they lived in Woodston in their first home attached to the post office, where Debra Louise ('54) and Janet Marie ('55) were born. Later they moved to a little house under the water tower where Valinda Kay ('56), Ruth Renna ('58), Marlynn Sue ('60), and Lori Jean ('63) were born, making the family of six daughters. In late 1963, they moved to a farm southwest of Woodston when Lori was still learning to crawl.
The love of Velma’s life was God, James, and her family. She enjoyed being a homemaker; cooking, cleaning, and especially DUSTING! .... NOT! Her home was sometimes called the "Local Bread and Breakfast" by many friends and family, as hospitality was a special gift of hers.
Velma started out as an Evangelical United Brethren until later merging with the Methodist Church, becoming a United Methodist. She worked many years on the funeral committee, helping plan and serve meals. Velma then moved her membership to the Norton First United Methodist Church. In 2010, three years after the passing of her husband, she moved to Norton to assisted living at Prairie Meadows, then to Whispering Pines, when she had problems with medicine. On October 28, 2020, she moved to Wellsprings of Westmoreland to be closer to Chuck and Janet in Wamego.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Marjorie and Lloyd Schneider; her brother, Delphan Hoopes; her mother, Maude Louise Hoopes; her father, ArneyLee Hoopes; her husband, James; and her daughter, Marlynn Sue Covert.
She is survived by her family: Debra Mavis (Terry), Janet Look (Chuck), Valinda Luttig, Ruth Shelite (Monte), and Lori Grimes; her grandkids and great-grands; her siblings: Larry Hoopes (Marilyn), Glen Hoopes (Rae Jean), Pat Preston (Weldon), Linda Beisner (Ron), Jack Hoopes (Sandy), Terry Hoopes (Sheila); and wife of brother, Delphan, Jean.
Velma was dearly LOVED by all of her family and friends. She will be missed. We have the assurance that she is with our heavenly Father and will look forward to us joining her someday. Velma’s favorite scripture was Psalms 23, and her favorite hymns were, “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and “What a Day.”
A gathering celebrating Velma’s life will be held at a later date.
