Verlene passed away on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the Elm Heights Care Center.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Shenandoah Ambulance Service.

Verlene Looker, 73 of Shenandoah passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah. Verlene was born on September 29, 1945 in Maryville, Missouri the daughter of Fay and Neva (Gardner) Looker.

Verlene moved to Shenandoah when she was just 6 years old. Her parents both worked for May Seed and Nursery Company, so it was a natural fit for Verlene to join the KMA Radio family. As a young woman, Verlene began a career as part of the Kitchen-Klatter family and later hosted a daily hour-long homemaking program entitled "Lifestyles". After Kitchen Klatter went out of business in 1985 she recorded a homemaking program for KQIS Radio also in Shenandoah. She then worked as a tour guide for Central Travel Agency. In 1991 she began working in Human Resources at Wal-Mart, where she remained employed until her passing.

While she never had any children of her own, Verlene was a primary matriarchal figure and care taker for her extended family. How rare it was to see Verlene without one of her nieces or nephews by her side. She loved to spend her free time toting her nieces and nephews to and from school events, dance recitals and athletics. Verlene was kind, loyal and spent her life in service to others.

She is survived by her brother Roger Looker; her nieces Michelle Looker-Collins, Stacy Looker-Graham and Kim Manion; 8 great-nieces and nephews; 5 great-great-nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends who she loved beyond measure.