Verna Mae Creel Klein

Verna Mae Creel Klein, beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother passed suddenly of natural causes on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at the age of 90. For the past ten years she enjoyed a full life - residing with her devoted grand-daughter's family - Julie and Thomas Ross of Vancleave, Mississippi. Born October 5, 1919 in Biloxi, Mississippi, Verna was the last surviving member of Mary Creel's seven children - Genevieve, Herman, Beulah, Richard, Ferrell, and Melvin. She, like all the Creel children, began working at a very early age - forcing Verna to drop out of school before the eighth grade. Not one to give up, she eventually earned her GED some forty years later! At 22 she married Fred Klein, Jr. and joined him working at the Biloxi Bakery as a sales clerk, and occasional truck driver! When her two children were born, Fred III in 1944, and Charles three years later, she dedicated herself to family and household. In 1951 she converted to Catholicism and was never known to end a day without praying the Rosary. Whether hosting a cub scout pack, catering to piano recitals, ferrying the children to and from school and altar boy assignments, working as a volunteer lunch server, Verna was foremost a mom - enjoying all the wonderful things a mom does with her children - especially in the summers - crabbing, swimming, and yearly family vacations. When "her boys" later graduated from school, she filled her time with gardening, ceramics, needlework, and beaded Christmas ornament crafting. Eventually, she and her husband, Fred traveled throughout the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and all of Europe. She particularly enjoyed live theatre – an interest that led to her appearing in several local community plays and musicals. She received several awards including a best actress award for her role as Big Mama in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. After her husband's passing in 1993, she moved to the Methodist Sea Shore Assembly where, it's said, she introduced several residents to her fanatical interest in the New Orleans Saints. Verna doted on her three grandchildren - Chuck Klein, Jr., Julie Klein Ross and Jason Klein of Monroe, Connecticut. She was blessed with seven great grandchildren: Thomas, Savannah, and Samuel – children of Thomas and Julie Ross of Vancleave; and Katya, Nina, Evan, and Ella – children of Charles and Dabney Klein of Franklin, Tennessee. She is also survived by family members Junius Klein of Fairhope, Alabama and Peter Bonitatibus, Jr. of Monroe, CT. Verna enjoyed a long rewarding life – giving, caring and sharing with innumerable friends and family members. We will all miss her beautiful and joyful spirit. Honoring Verna's last wishes, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105 or by calling Tributes at 1-800-873-6983. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at noon at Nativity BVM. Friends may visit from 11:00 am until mass time. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Ave., Biloxi is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com