Vera Hopson

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Vera Rose Hopson passed away peacefully at DeBary Manor in DeBary, Fla., at the age of 89 on Aug. 25, 2015. Rose was born in Buhl, Idaho, on March 4, 1926, the sixth child of eight to the family of Vane and Elsie Whiteside.

The family lived and worked on several ranches in southern Idaho and northern Nevada during her childhood. She graduated from Wells High School in three and a half years after skipping from the sixth to ninth grade when the family moved from Metropolis, Nev.

Rose married her high school sweetheart, Rex Brooks, in 1942, just before he was drafted into World War II. After the war with a daughter and son in tow, the family moved to Reno, Nev., where two more daughters were born.

When it was necessary to support her family, Rose took a job dealing black jack and roulette in several Reno clubs. There, she met her second husband, Jim Hopson. They were married in 1974.

When Rose's health made it necessary to retire, they moved to Bruneau, Idaho, where Jim worked for Idaho State Parks, and Rose helped care for her mother, Elsie Ray. After Jim's death in 1995, Rose stayed on in Bruneau until her declining health led her to move closer to her daughter in Florida.

Until the end, Rose was busy. Whether it was raising her children, becoming one of the best dealers in Reno, growing great gardens, crafting beautiful stained glass, creating multitudes of quilts or baking great pies, Rose only sat down if she had a good book to read. She was always ready to share her home, her creations and her expertise.

She is survived by her children, Mike (Johanna) Brooks of Montana and Becky (Darrell) Presley of Florida; her grandchildren, Greg, Chris, Corey, Traci, Mike, Mark, Lisa, Kevin and Bryan; and numerous great grandchildren; a brother, Lyle Whiteside of Nevada; a sister, Cheryl Whiteside of Idaho; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Hopson, her daughters, Lee Wagner and LaRae Mathews, and two grandchildren, Debbie Brooks and Scott Wagner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bruneau Quick Response.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service and potluck lunch at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 at the American Legion Hall in Bruneau.