Vertie Louise Box, resident of Ponca City, died Friday, December 18, 2015. She was 87.
The daughter of Raymond Emery Russell and Maggie Jane Kuhns Russell, Vertie was born in Paris, Texas on July 26, 1928. Vertie attended schools in Bressie, Marland and Ponca City, Oklahoma, She married William Michael “Mike” Box in Newkirk, Oklahoma, on February 7, 1945. In 1947 they had their only child, daughter Mary Margaret. Mike worked for Cities Service in Ponca City as a pipefitter and then the family moved to Washington, with most of their time in Bremerton, where Mike worked at Puget Sound Shipyards. They enjoyed their time in Washington and spent much of their free time traveling the United States. They were especially interested in Civil War memorabilia and traveled to many battle sites. They also always owned a boat and loved spending time with friends and family boating, camping, fishing and skiing. One of their favorite spots was Grand Lake. When they retired they moved to Claremore and after Mike died, Vertie moved to Ponca City. They left a long string of friends wherever they landed.
In their early years Vertie worked for a bakery in Ponca; later she and Mike bought a hardware store in Washington and both of them spent entirely too much time there, she always said.
Vertie loved to cook and could put on quite a spread.. Everyone talked about her wonderful meals and beautiful table settings. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to garden.
Vertie was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, daughter, Mary, her parents, and all of her brothers and sisters – Albert, Minnie, Raymond, Mildred and Donnie.
She is survived by her grandchildren Kim, Doug and Amy, all of Oregon. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry. The Rev. April Coates of Albright United Methodist Church in Ponca City will officiate. Services are under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
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