As soon as Verl graduated from Juab High School with the Class of 1962, he and Kaye was married in the Manti LDS Temple. They had met each other in a variety of Church activities. They both were teenagers, and when we all were young, we do stupid things. But from my point of view is they both got hitched up with the right partner's. Verl was too young to drive to visit Kaye, so he would ride his bike or get on a horse to visit. On their wedding day it appears that Verl forgot his wallet, so his father-Fred paid for the marriage license and even signed the marriage document. Most folks around Nephi may not remember the father of Verl, but I sure did. Like Verl, Fred was a great man around town, and this Nephi Jones Boy would often visit the home of Fred and Helen. Many years ago, Fred noticed my father-Alma Jones, trying to level the city road in front of the Jones home on 7th North. Fred stopped and talked to my Dad and it wasn't long after that Fred came back with a big truck load of gravel and that was at no expense. My sister-Jaynette lives in that family home that was built in 1885, and she too has purchased a lot of gravel to keep it in good shape with the terrible traffic of the school and gym, but still better that living it the "Big Salt City." Verl must have picked up the same great work ethics as his father, as we don't teach our young folks of having fun while we work hard. While I was on the Nephi City Council, I got more impressed with Verl and Kaye. They just couldn't be away from each other for long. I would often see Verl come to the Nephi offices on Friday, and that was when Verl would check to see if their was more home or business Inspections to compete. Kaye was content waiting in the car while I was cleaning windows and wave to her. One day when I was wearing my blue Bib Overalls, I walked into a local business, and the owner greeted me and declared-"Did you borrow those Bibs from Verl Wilkey?" I think he wanted me to giggle, as he had the same dry whit as me, but I said something to the affect "If you compare me with Verl Wilkey, that is a great complement". When I returned to Nephi after living in the noise to the North, I built a new home in the same block as my fathers and grandfathers horse pasture. I asked the Nephi Mayor-Mark Jones if I needed to make sure the home was built according to my standards as well as what the proper codes. Mayor Jones gave me good and honest advice, much like his father did-Ron Jones. He said their is no reason to pay a lot of money to hire another Inspection, as "Verl Wilkey does that for Nephi and was the best there is". Mark additionally spoke of Verl having a lot of knowledge with his own business of doing the same work as his father did. When I noticed that there may be a problem with the building of the home, as Verl had left a Red or Blue tag (I am color blind), I was glad Verl was on the job and got on the builder to make sure the problem was fixed or he was going to pull his license. I was personally and professionally competent that Verl had "True Grit" similar to the John Wayne point of view. I have so much respect for Verl, and Kaye, as she appeared to be the cream of crop, as I think she is like a raw glass of cow milk. Regardless of who much you shake the bottle of milk, the cream will rise to the top", just like Kaye. She will be a little lost without Verl, but if one thinks about it, he was not left you Kaye. He is really still with you, as he is just on a temporary vacation from hard and ethical work. I didn't attend his funeral, but was impressed with the writing his obituary, which has a photo of Verl in his work Bibs, and that impressed me, liked seeing Joe Garrett in his work Bibs and one could see Joe wearing a good Bib to attend meetings, just like he did when he was on the Nephi City Council. I will miss Verl as Kaye will, but she has lots of great family and friends, so if your are one those people, "Here's your sign". Look at the Anderson Funeral Obits as I can't figure how to download it here and now put 12 straight hours typing this, so good night and the noise of the constant planes flying over is going to turn into "Welcome to Airport Number Three", and I left "Airport Number Two" to get away from constant noise. Oh well, I guess I will just have to accept the Change of what Nephi used to be like and Kaye has to do the same, but you will always have him.
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