Verla Marie Whitney, 90, of South Hutchinson, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on November 1, 2021.  There is no greater gift in this life than to love and be loved.  Verla will be forever honored as a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother.  She was born on November 10, 1930 in Ellsworth, Kansas to Beatrice J. ( Allen) and Edward W. Buffington.  She attended the local grade schools and graduated from Marquette High School in 1948 and graduated from Brown Mackie Business College in 1949.

Verla retired as an insurance agent and office manager of Insurance Center of Kansas in South Hutchinson, Kansas after 38 years of service.  She was also self-employed as an Income Tax preparer for 34 years.  Verla was united in marriage to Merle Ingemanson on February 4, 1950.  Merle and Verla enjoyed 23 happy years together in Hutchinson, Kansas and loved spending time with their families and hosting big family dinners.  During that time four children were born, Larry, Vicky, Debbie, and Patricia.  Merle preceded her in death on November 2, 2015.  She had a second marriage to Loren Whitney on August 15, 1976 and lived in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Loren preceded her in death.  Verla loved cooking, playing golf and dancing.  She also loved being outside working in the yard and gardening and always grew the most beautiful flowers.

Verla was preceded in death by her parents, Beatrice J. ( Allen) and Edward W. Buffington, her sisters Kathleen Honomichl and Janice Burgess and her son Larry Douglas.

Verla had a very kind and generous spirit and will be missed tremendously by a multitude of friends and leaves behind many loved ones she held dear to her heart, including her three devoted daughters Vicky Roy of Shawnee, Kansas, Debbie Ortega of Hutchinson, Kansas, and Patricia ( David) Barr of Wichita, Kansas; ten grandchildren: Stephanie ( Michael), Kerri ( Scott), Jessica ( Cole), Matthew ( Jeanna), Emily ( Tony), Adam ( Connie), Stacy ( Mike), Amy ( Ryan), Becky, and Justin; twenty-two great grandchildren:  Amanda ( Kaveh), Alissa, Jacob, Ian, Kylar, Eli, Ava, Rhett, Addison, McKenna ( Noah), Collin, Caitlin, Carson, Mahli, Aiden, Alicia ( Jack), Jasmine, Jordan, Katricia, Jherek, Madison, and Bryton;  and six great-great grandchildren: Xavier, Krew, McKenzie, Addison, Taeden, and Tahlia.

We are a family bound together in love and faith.  We know she is at peace and we know we will see her again.  Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her beloved family and friends for years to come.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3: 5-6

Services will be held for Verla at Old Mission-Heritage Funeral Home, 528 North Main Street, Hutchinson, Kansas, on Friday, November 12, 2021 with visitation at 1:00 p.m., followed by the memorial service and burial at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5905 W. 4th Street, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Condolences may be expressed at Old Mission-Heritage Funeral Home web page at www.omhfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Angels Care Hospice in loving memory of Verla in care Old Mission-Heritage Funeral Home.