Vera M. Burrell

Vera Marie Reese Burrell, 92, of Dover, O., and formerly of Uhrichsville, O., and Big Pine Key, Fla., passed away peacefully Nov. 11 in the Hospice Home Center at Akron, O., surrounded by her loving family.She was born June 28, 1912, near East Sparta, O., a daughter of the late Frank and Myrtle Gnagy Bitticker.She was an avid Cleveland Indians fan, loved to play cards with her family and friends, work word puzzles and also to read novels.Vera was married Sept. 3, 1936, to Delmer Burrell, who passed away on their 63rd wedding anniversary in 1999. She attended Strasburg schools and was a member of the “First Families of Tuscarawas County.” To cherish her memory, she leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lynn Stallings of Fairlawn, O., and a son, Wayne (Alexis) Reese of Dover with whom she resided; four grandsons, Keith (Linda) Smith of Webster, N.Y., Gregory (Laura) Stallings of Norton, O., Nichols (Maria) Reese of Conover, N.C., and Christopher (Laura) Gibbs of Peninsula. O., five great-grandchildren, Brandon, Ryan and Rachel Smith and Noah and Sophia Reese; a sister, Thelma Phillips of New Philadelphia, O., and numerous nieces and nephews.In 1969, she retired as a manager of the former GTE Eastern Division Credit Union of Dover. A thoughtful and generous woman, she and Delmer moved to Big Pine Key, Fla., where she helped found the Big Pine Senior Center, the Vial of Life program, organized the Hospice Volunteer program, was a member of Sweet Adelines, sang in the church choir, Kirk of the Keys Presbyterian Church and helped found the Marathon Manor, the only nursing home at Marathon, Fla.Open heart surgrey in 1998 slowed her down a bit and following the death of her husband, she returned to Ohio and became a member of the Tuscarawas County AARP and the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia, where Revs. Michael Seely and Stuart Barr will officiate a memorial service to celebrate her life on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. A luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall.She was preceded in death by a brother, Wilbur Bitticker, and a nephew, Bill Bitticker.As per Vera’s wishes, she will be cremated, and cremains will be disseminated in the ocean near Marathon, to be with her beloved Delmer at a later date.Memorial contribution may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 217 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia, O. 44663 or Kirk of the Keys Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 501078, Marathon, Fla. 33050.Those unable to attend the memorial service may send a personal condolence to the family and sign an online registry to visiting the funeral home’s Web site.