Jodie Vivian
McVey
Jodie 'Jo'
Vivian (Lummus) McVey, 85, resident of Danville, died peacefully on Thursday
(July 10, 2008) at the Bruns East Bay Hospice Facility in Danville, succumbing
to ovarian cancer. Throughout her life, Jodie was known for her amazing courage
and determination - serving as an inspiration to her family and friends that
dearly loved her.
Jodie was
born Sept. 30, 1922, in Keechi, Texas, to James Thomas Lummus and Mrytle Mable
Dolson. She grew up in East Texas on a farm with her two younger sisters,
Audrey Faye and Addie Pauline, and her parents.
After
graduating high school, Jodie attended Cheneir Business College and became a
telephone operator and eventual supervisor for Southwestern Bell.
During World
War II, she had a chance meeting with a soldier in the army, Bruce McVey, who
eventually became her husband. They married after he finished his service and
moved to Wichita, where Jodie was a homemaker and Bruce continued his tenure
with the Gas Service Company.
After 12
years of marriage, they moved to Newton, where they made their home for the
next 39 years until Bruce's death.
During their
51 years of marriage, Jodie and Bruce had three children: sons, John Hugh McVey
of Galveston, Texas, and Robert Bruce McVey of Peabody; and daughter, Susan Jo
McVey Trainer of Danville.
Jodie was an
excellent cook, with a specialty for apple pie and chocolate chip cookies, and
a wonderful seamstress. Dedicated to the Presbyterian Church of Newton, Jodie
was a Deaconess and served on many committees. She and Bruce also were members
of the Cruisers Club and were active in the Newton community.
In her final
10 years of life, Jodie was an active resident of Danville, where she enjoyed
attending the Community Presbyterian Church, playing bridge at the Dublin
Senior center and spending time with her young grandchildren.
Jodie is
survived by her children, John McVey, Robert and Sandra McVey, and Susan
Trainer; her grandchildren Jennifer and Dustin Toman, Robert and Mallory McVey,
Austen Trainer, Tyler Trainer, Kaitlyn Trainer and Addison Trainer; her
sisters, Audrey Fay Smith and Addie Pauline Rohl; and her nieces and nephews,
who will all miss her dearly.
A memorial
service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Newton. The
service will be officiated by Pastor Jim Anderson, with burial immediately
following at Greenwood Cemetery on East First Street in Newton.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or to the
First Presbyterian Church of Newton.
