Eagleville, MO: Bernita passed away at her home in Maricopa, AZ on Sept 2, 2018 at age 82. She was born on August 16, 1936 to Mina and Cleo Young and was raised on a small farm near Blythedale, MO.
She always said her life there was like the TV show “Little House on the Prairie.” When the roads were bad, Berni and her sister, Juanita, rode their horse to a one-room schoolhouse known as “Snowball School.” Berni and her family took great pride in working their farm and growing their own food. The family moved to Eagleville, MO where Berni graduated from North Harrison High School in 1954. She loved music and enjoyed singing and playing the piano at the Methodist Church on Sundays. She moved to St. Joseph, MO and attended Platt Gard Business College.
She was employed many years at Quaker Oats. Berni met her husband, Cy, at a dance in 1956 and they were married in 1958. They relocated to Phoenix, AZ in 1980. She had many adventures with Cy including hiking the Grand Canyon, trips in their airplane, hunting expeditions and going on cruises. She worked at the Arizona Dept of Economic Security until she retired at age 74.
Berni is survived by her husband Cy, daughter Brenda, son Brett, son-in-law Tim, grandchildren Matt (Caitlin), Amanda, Taylor, Brandon, Adam, Claire and Aubrey who were the delights of her life. Her brother Darryl (Donna), sister-in-law Virginia, and many nieces and nephews. Berni was known by everyone she met as a kind, loving soul. She will be greatly missed.