Verna Newton, 85, of Valparaiso, IN, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family's love.

She was born in Kosciusko County, IN, to Jonathan and Lucy (Kaufman) Mast on March 26, 1935. She was the youngest of 20 children and was the last living sibling.

Verna was a collector.  She cherished her collection of cookbooks and fancy kitchen gadgets.  An avid storyteller with a sharp memory, she would often recall stories from early childhood to her family.  She also enjoyed her garden and her bird feeders.

She enrolled herself in a ceramics class at Western Michigan College and thoroughly enjoyed her time creating ceramics.  She would often share her creations, considering herself a quirky artist.

Verna was a kind and genuine soul, who made lifelong friendships.  She enjoyed the friendship of many neighbors, but that of Kay and Bill Peffley and Sandy and Bill George were treasured friends of over 50 years.

Also surviving are her daughter Barbara (Scott) Anderson of Portage, IN; her grandchildren Mandie L. (Jeremy) Himan of Chesterton, IN, Michael A. (Emma) Wolf of Montgomery, IL, James Newton of Osceola, IN, Joshua (Megan) Newton of Bristol, IN, Stacy (John) Baker of Elkhart, IN, and Jason Newton of Orlando, FL; great-grandchildren Cooper D. Himan, Mason L. Himan, Rylan Wolf, Isaac Newton, Gabriel Newton, Ashlyn Stark, Anthony Newton, and Vanessa Warner.

Welcoming Verna into heaven is her son Richard D. Newton; all of her siblings Laura Lawson, Viola Hill, Leona Lengacher, Elmer Mast, Reuben Mast, Chester Mast, Ervin Mast, Christ Mast, Sara Mae Miller, Clara Bontrager, Susie Yoder, Ezra Mast, Ora Mast, Lydia Ann Yoder, Monroe Mast, Edna Whitmer, Luella Gatton, Emra Mast, and Jacob Mast

Special thanks to the entire staff of Avalon Springs for the wonderful care afforded to Verna.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway Osceola, IN 46561 Funeral services will be at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Garden.