Verna Alice Ryan, age 104, of Hampton formerly of Dows died Thursday March 17, 2016 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. A memorial service for Verna A. Ryan will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday March 23, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Dows. Pastor Shawn Hill will officiate. Visitation for Verna A. Ryan will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday starting at 12:30 P.M. and be open until the service-time. Verna was born on September 3, 1911 in LaPorte City, Iowa to James and Lottie (McAllister) Crafton. She was the middle daughter of five children. Verna moved to Dows when she was 3 years old. She attended country school just up the road from their farm and graduated from Dows High School in 1930. Well past her 100th birthday, she could still name many of her classmates while looking at her senior class photo. On August 27, 1946 she was united in marriage to Walter (Nuge) Ryan. They made their home in Dows, where in 1996 they quietly celebrated 50 years together. Verna worked for the telephone company for 36 years. She also worked for Vroman and Janssen Insurance Agency a few years and later went into business as co-owner of the local newspaper, Dows Advocate. She retired in 1978. Verna was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dows, and also a longtime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. During her 104 years of life, Verna has seen many changes. She loved sharing stores of "the way it used to be." Her love for crocheting, along with her generosity in giving, has left many in her family and community with beautiful afghans and other hand-crafted items that she so enjoyed making. Verna is survived by many nieces and nephews. Verna was preceded in death by her husband Nuge; her parents; brothers, George and Robert (Jiggs); and sisters, Ina Olson and Norma Hart.