VERNA LEE CUTSFORTH KINERSLY Jan. 1, 1929 - Dec. 31, 2020

Verna Lee Kinersly, one day shy of 92, passed away on New Year’s Eve in Escondido, CA due to complications from COVID after a lengthy journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on New Year’s Day, the daughter of Lee Vernon Cutsforth and Margaret Crosby Cutsforth, she was raised in Portland, OR. In her youth, Verna was active in 4-H sewing earning various Grand Champion sewing awards at the county and state level. As a teen, she represented Oregon at the 4-H sewing national convention in Chicago. In 1950, Verna graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Home Economics. In college, she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority and served as chapter president her senior year. After college, Verna met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Kinersly, a co-worker at a Portland bank. They married on February 14, 1953 and raised their four children in Portland. Verna was a homemaker, devoted mother, and active community volunteer including PTA president, 4-H sewing leader, and Camp Fire Girls troop leader. In retirement, Verna and Jerry moved to the Sun City Summerlin area of Las Vegas. They volunteered as senior rangers for two summers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Traveling and cruising were retirement highlights for the couple. She and Jerry toured the United States and most of the world. Verna was a member of the Just Sew Club in Summerlin utilizing her life-long love of sewing. She was also a member of the Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Summerlin. Verna will be remembered for her sweet personality, kindness, love of gardening, and homemade cinnamon rolls. She had a keen sense of humor and was the charming sidekick to her husband Jerry’s corny jokes during their 66 years of marriage. In 2018, Jerry preceded her in death. She is survived by her children, Jan Marlia (Chris), Jill Colburn (Blake), Jay Kinersly (Lourdes) and Jeff Kinersly; seven grandchildren; eight greatgrandchildren; one great-great grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Brothers, David H. Cutsforth and Curtis W. Cutsforth preceded her in death. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Keep Memory Alive at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.