Venda Marie Poore passed away October 19, 2018 at the Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton at the age of 99. She was born on September 9, 1919 in Osborne County, south of Alton near the river, to Bert and Essie (Deering) Dugan. On January 12, 1938 Venda married Alvin Poore in Long Island, Kansas. They were married almost 74 years and were blessed with four children: Mervin, Mary Ann, Larry, and Janet.

Venda grew up along the river attending the valley schools where she played basketball and softball. She graduated from Alton High School with the Class of 1937. She was a homemaker and farm wife. She was a member of Valley Club – Alton, KS, Woodston United Methodist Church, and was a 4-H cooking leader. Venda enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, playing cards, and dancing at the Bohemian Dance Hall north of Alton.

Venda is survived by her sons Mervin Poore and wife Jeanne of Scott City and Larry Poore of Woodston; daughters Mary Ann Holmes and husband Garry of Fenton, MO and Janet O’Toole and husband Steve Zaragoza of Kansas City, MO; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-granddaughter.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Alvin; sister Marvel Shaw; brothers Jake Dugan and Cleo Dugan; daughter-in-law Barbara “BJ” Poore; and great-grandson Jacob Thomas Foose.

Venda was a woman of great love and character. She will be truly missed by all her children and friends, but will live on in our hearts and minds as a woman who was truly the Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Visitation will be Tuesday 6-8:00 P.M. with the family receiving friends. Burial will follow in the Woodston Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Solomon Valley Manor Activity Fund and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.