Verda Jane (Ulam) Walley

Verda Jane (Ulam) Walley, 98, of Colonial Drive, Ipswich, died in her home Friday, October 25, 2013. She was the loving wife of the late Walter Walley.

They were married just three months shy of seventy years and adored each other until death were they parted.

Verda was born in East Palestine, Ohio, on October 10, 1915. She was a hair dresser by trade and was employed at My Hairdresser and James House of Beauty, both in downtown Ipswich.   Although she loved hairdressing, her most rewarding job came after retirement--raising her grandsons, Michael Ray Manning and Samuel Robert Manning, both of Ipswich, while their parents worked.  Together, Verda and Walter imparted to their grandsons what it means to live in a truly loving environment

Those who knew Verda will agree that she was perhaps the sweetest, kindest, most lovely woman in the world, without a judgmental bone in her body.  The harshest words she ever uttered were, "Oh gosh", which in her Ohioan accent came out as "Oh garsh."  In addition to caring for her family, she enjoyed traveling with Walter and cooking for her family, making bread, cakes, noodles and everything else from scratch, a skill she taught to her daughters and grandsons. She was also active in Girl Scouts, the Ipswich United Methodist Church and TOPS.

In addition to her husband she was pre-deceased by  her  son, Michael John Walley formerly of North Stonington, CT; a sister, Ruth Clark, formerly of Oxford, CT; her son-in-law, Roger S. Edmonds, formerly of Ipswich,  as well as many other friends and other relatives.

Verda is survived by two beloved daughters, Ruth D. Edmonds, and Nancy L. Manning and her husband, Raymond, of Ipswich, and her late son's wife, Marilyn (Walley) Taylor, of North Stonington, CT.  She will also be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Reginald Edmonds of Gloucester, Grant Edmonds of Eugene, OR, David Walley and Dennis Walley of Woodstock and North Stonington, CT, and Michael Manning and Samuel Manning of Ipswich and four great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held on 1:00 pm Saturday, November 2, 2013, in the United Methodist Church, 31 North Main Street, Ipswich, followed by a memorial reception downstairs in the church. Memorial contributions in Verda's name may be made to Senior Care, 49 Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to the United Methodist Church of Ipswich, 31 North Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938 or the charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home.

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