Verna Mcilwain

Verna Pinkie Basye McIlwain formerly of Houston, Texas passed away on February 24th, 2020 at Arbor Gardens in Waco, Texas.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. Burial will be in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.

Verna was born on July 4th, 1922 in Memphis, Tennessee to Melvin Leslie Basye and Edris Askew Basye.

She attended Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas where she was a member of the drill team.

She proudly went by the nickname “Little Miss Independence” and enjoyed needlework, cooking and traveling the world with her husband Ralph R. McIlwain. After moving to Brenham, she was a proud member of the Red Hat Club and First Baptist of Brenham.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Ralph R. McIlwain and her Daughters Beth Ellen McIlwain & Susan Kay McIlwain Putscher.

She is survived by her daughters, Judy Ann McIlwain Kraft and Cheryl Marie McIlwain; her 9 grandchildren, Ronald L. Smith, Jr., Kevin R. Smith, Hope A. Putscher Ybarra, Robert P. Putscher, Jr., Robin N. Putscher, Nicholas B. Putscher, Thomas M. Dye, Hunter R. Dye, Mayland S. Hopper and their families. She was also graced with 14 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Funeral arrangements for Verna McIlwain are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, TX, 979-836-4564.

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