Tributes ‘Queen Vera’ shared her voice with all people
Verna Carr was a queen. Wearing royal colors, a crown, and holding a wand, she reigned over Valleyfest for 16 years. She was “Queen Vera of Dale” and so much more.
Carr died March 21 from cancer. She was 68.
Valleyfest volunteers Peggy Doering and Mary Farley recalled how it all began. They wrote that for the first couple of years Carr rode in the parade and walked around the park, visiting with the crowd. Children seemed to be attracted to her.
“She came up with the idea to sit in attendance, and she began giving the children one-on-one visits. … She asked what their favorite activities were, or what they enjoyed participating in, and accordingly gave them royal names like Lady Mary of the Butterflies on Flowers, or Sir Timothy, Knight of the Baseball Diamond. Each child was given a royal blessing with a tap of her wand and sent them on their way with an official certificate,” wrote Doering and Farley.
Sitting on a “throne” under a tree, hundreds of children knelt before her. Valleyfest volunteer Gail Bongiovanni remembered one time when three boys dragged a little girl up to Carr. Their sister was shy but loved to pretend to be a princess and could Queen Vera do anything about it?
“Verna picked up her wand and announced that the boys were ‘Knights of the Realm’ and bent down and quietly talked to the little girl,” recalled Bongiovanni, and though the girl rarely spoke, she nodded and listened intently to the Queen, “Queen Vera slowly stood up and announced to the little girl and all around that with all the powers given to her, the little girl would be granted her hopes and desires, and lightly tapped her on the head with her wand. With that done, the little girl ran off toward the playground where her mom was watching and announced to everyone in a loud voice, ‘I did it!’ “
Carr was a firm believer in “doing it,” not halfway but to the full extent. “If something was important enough for Carr to join then she gave it her all, and would eventually be a secretary, vice president or president of that club or organization,” said Shirley Kiddoo, Carr’s niece. “She didn’t sit back and let others do the work. She got involved all the way.”
Carr’s many involvements included the National Speakers Association, Toastmaster International, Kiwanis, American Holistic Nurses Association and The Inland Empire Gardeners.
Carr was born in Montana. She was the 10th of 11 children. “Maybe that’s why she spoke loud and fast,” said Toastmaster Eileen Allen, “but her gestures slowed her down.” After Carr joined the Toastmasters, she spoke at many area organizations. Her main topic was “How to Live Healthy.”
Carr graduated from Central Valley High School in 1957. She married Joel Carr in 1958 and became a nurse. She worked at Deaconess Hospital and later at Valley General Hospital where she was night supervisor of nurses. Fellow supervisor Shirlee Hachman said Carr “was convinced that you needed at least six hugs a day and that laughter was good medicine, and she would always pass that on to people she would meet.”
Carr retired from nursing in the late 1970s but continued to heal others as a massage therapist. In 1983 she opened her own business and worked for as long as her health allowed.
Carr’s niece, Kathy Clayton, wrote “A Celebration of Verna’s Life” which she read at Carr’s memorial service April 28 at Valley Open Bible Church.
She wrote, “Carr was a healer to so many … she was a learner, constantly seeking to expand herself … family was important … she was a naturalist in so many ways … she had a strong sense of adventure … loved the ocean … she enjoyed exploring parts of her personality and pushing herself, while making more friends, and making a contribution.”
Many messages were left in memory of Carr by dozens of people who were touched by her. She was a light to so many, lighting up a room with her enthusiasm and love for life.
Carr’s ashes will be scattered at the ocean where “she’s probably flying a kite right now,” Clayton said.