Verna Lee Sallaz passed peacefully on Friday, December 19th at Brighton Gardens in Prairie Village, Kansas where she has resided for the last two years. Verna called on her can-do spirit and sense of humor to support her in her courageous fight against cancer for sixteen years. She is survived by her son Martin Sallaz, his wife Terri and their two children, John and Dani of Leawood, Kansas.

Verna Lee was born in 1930 to Clifford and Gay Martin in Montrose, Missouri. Verna Lee grew up on the family farm with her parents and older brother, Manford, located between Deepwater and Montrose, Missouri. She attended Montrose schools where she graduated in 1948. Verna moved to Kansas City where she worked until she married Herman Augustus "Gus" Sallaz from Deepwater. Verna Lee and Gus moved to Clinton where they had two children, Martin, and James who died shortly after birth. Verna Lee safely ushered Clinton children to school as a driver for the Clinton School System and in 1978 began working at the Missouri Department of Welfare as a social worker. She retired from the Welfare Department in 1990.

Verna Lee was an active member of Clinton Christian Church. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her caring nature, her abundant sense of humor and her readiness to lend a helping hand. Verna Lee had many wonderful friends who never forgot her and made her feel special. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed.

Verna Lee is preceded in death by her parents, her brother and her husband.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at Vansant-Mills Chapel, CLinton with burial in Engelwood Cemetery, CLinton. The family will receive friends one hour before the service on Tuesday at the Chapel. Family suggests contributions to the Clinton Christian Church and may be left at the funeral home. Fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank the Brighton Gardens staff for making her comfortable and for their compassionate care. They would also like to thank Good Shepheerd Hospice for their support.