On August 29, 1924, Vina Jewell became the second daughter of Rinaldo Eppler and Margaret Edna Olinger Webster. She was born in the home, which at that time was located two miles north and seven miles west of Elkhart, Kansas.

Growing up in a time when the work ethic was strong, at five years of age she began herding cattle and helping milk ten to fifteen cows. Included in her chore list were feeding bucket calves and separating the milk so the cream could be stored in the milk trough until it could be sold. Those were difficult days economically, so she also shared in the job of loading the header barge with cow chips to burn in the place of firewood.

Being somewhat of a tomboy Vina Jewell was very active. She liked to ride her horse out to Point View Rock and, on the weekend, have horse races with the neighbor kids. When they were not riding, they were hunting for arrowheads. Some weekends were spent with the neighbors freezing and eating homemade ice cream. When her family was in Elkhart, she loved to roller skate on the sidewalks. At about seven or eight years of age, she made her first trip to the doctor. She had bailed out of a swing and broken her wrist. Consequently, she had to wear wood splints on her arm until it healed.

The summer when Vina Jewell was eight years old, the family moved most of their cattle across the Cimarron to her grandparents' place east of Stonington Cemetery, where the rains had fallen and the grazing was better. Not only did she and her sister Floreine ride their horse, Star, bareback to herd the cattle, but doubled on her to school, carrying their lunch pails with them. Star had a strong mouth and, especially on the way home, wanted to set her own pace. Usually the gate close to home was open, but on one particular day, it was not. The girls hoped Star would stop, but over the top she went, girls and all. Thankfully, everyone was still aboard and intact. While still at their grandparents' place, they also headed maize by hand and pumped the water from a cistern for the family needs. It was a lot of hard work for a young girl, but the experience stood her in good stead for the years ahead when she would become a farm wife and mother.

Sadness entered her life on November 4, 1933, when she lost her two-day-old infant brother, Norman Eppler. But gladness followed because of the influence of her godly grandmother who introduced her to the Gospel at the local church. She gladly accepted Christ as her personal Savior, and her life was forever changed. Guided by faith, that relationship enabled her to deal with life's challenges and directed all her decisions.

In the early summer of 1935, her family moved to Colorado to establish their home. At that time she started attending school at Konantz. She rode the bus to school instead of her horse. Her first teacher was W.W. Collier for only one year, and he was followed by Murray Landrum. She played softball in grade school and basketball in high school.

It was while playing softball when she was thirteen, that she met her future husband, Marvin Burhenn. They met at first base where she played. For him, it was love at first sight, but for her, anger. Since he was four years older, she was angry that his school would let him play against a younger team. He persisted in his pursuit of her until her anger cooled and until he finally hit a home run with her, winning her heart. They dated for a year and, after she turned fifteen in August, they were married on January 16, 1940, and were married for seventy-two happy years.

They established their home together two miles west, one mile south, and one-half mile west of Stonington, Colorado. There they began their joyous and sometimes heartbreaking task of farming and ranching. Vina Jewell was a full partner in the endeavor doing what was needed to help. Because of her love for green grass, flowers, trees and gardens, she spent a great deal of her battling against the brown of our countryside. In order to be self-sufficient, they also raised cattle, milking stock, chickens, hogs and rabbits.

On November 8, 1941, they began their family with the birth of Marvin LeRoy. Three years later the family grew with the birth of Cecil Vern on May 20, 1944. Their tranquility was somewhat disrupted in June of 1945, right at harvest time, when Marvin was drafted to serve his country. It was a hectic time for Vina Jewell as she tried to take care of the farm, two boys, and still find a way to be with her husband as he was shuttled from California to Rhode Island and back. Things began to settle down again when World War II ended and Marvin was honorably discharged in February of 1946.

Her mothering responsibilities increased on May 21, 1950, with the birth of Michael Terry, and again a few months later when Marvin's youngest brother, Charles Edward, came to live with them. Around 1956, the family moved three quarters of a mile west to a different house with indoor plumbing, and Marvin and Vina Jewell lived there until their passing.

In 1957, she took on the responsibility of caring for Marvin's mother who had suffered a severe stroke, and she continued that care for another eight years until Josephine Anna went home to glory. Vina Jewell's home was one of hospitality and at various times open to others who needed a place to stay for an extended time.

Since her relationship to Christ was so important to her, she made certain that family devotions and faithful church attendance were a normal part of life. In 1951, she and her husband and two older boys were all baptized, publicly declaring their faith in Christ and becoming active members of the First Baptist Church of Walsh, Colorado. She attended there every time the doors were open and served there faithfully in many capacities as long as she was able. Vina Jewell influenced many lives as she taught Sunday School, Training Union and Vacation Bible School, and went as a counselor to youth camp. She and her husband regularly visited neighbors to share the joy and assurance they had found in Christ. Her love for God's Word was evident not only in how much she studied it but also in her ability to share its truths with others. Her greatest desire was that her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren know Christ personally as their Savior and walk in obedience to Him. She leaves a legacy and example of love for God, family and her church. She lived alone on the farm she loved until her passing.

Vina Jewell left us suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday evening, March 27, 2014, at the age of 89 years and 7 months. "She walked with God; and she was not; for God took her" home. "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

She was preceded in death by her parents, 'Epp' and Margaret Webster; her brother Norman; her husband Marvin of 72 years; her son Terry; her sister Floreine; her brother-in-law (son) Charles; her brothers-in-law Junior Gibson, Charles Herron, Clarence Burhenn and wife Ruby, Frank Burhenn and wife Armilda, Ralph Burhenn and wife Esther, Clinton Burhenn and wives Ilene and Elva, George Burhenn, Ervin Burhenn, William (Junior) Burhenn and wife Francis, Thomas Jeffries, and Earl VanTassel; and one sister-in-law Pearl Jeffries, and a special nephew and niece, Delmar and Delma Gibson.

She leaves behind her to mourn her passing and carry on her legacy, two sons, Marvin and wife Jean of Leesburg, Florida, and Cecil and wife Carol of Walsh, Colorado; daughter-in-law Marlene of Walsh, Colorado; sister/daughter-in-law Jackie of Midland, Georgia; sister Edna Mae Herron of Manter, Kansas; brother Richard Webster of Walsh, Colorado; sisters-in-law Ruby Ermel and husband William of Burlington, Colorado, and Ruby Burhenn Perkins of Pineville, Missouri; twenty-one grandchildren (including Charles and Jackie's two): Dewayne and Charis; (Marvin's four): Lee Daniel (Michelle), Denise (Terry) Portis, Diane (Jeff) Cohea, and Douglas; (Cecil's eight): Candice (David) Sneed, Cheri (Jeff) Martin, Connie, Catherine (Josh) Belcher, Chandra (Adam) Meshaw, Crystal (Gilbert) Mares, Clinton and Caitlyn; and (Terry's seven): Delmar, Lyle (Lalane), Carmen, Richard (Tiffany), Brian (Laura), Miles (Jesse), and Diamond (Jonathan) Mason; thirty-seven great-grandchildren (including DeWayne's five) and two more on the way; and Kristina Rutherford and Jennifer Pardue, whom God allowed to become a part of our family; plus a host of other relatives, nieces, nephews and friends.

Vina Jewell was a beautiful, virtuous, loving, godly, faithful, hardworking, exemplary wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. Although we mourn deeply at her sudden passing, we rejoice that she is well and happy in the presence of her heavenly Father and her family and friends who preceded her.

Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory: The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:51-58)

MOTHER, YOUR LOVE WILL LIVE FOREVER WITHIN ME

You gave me life, nurtured and cared for me, and when you felt the time was right, you set me free. Through the years, never once did you complain or wish for things to be any different. You simply took your life in stride, no questions asked, embracing the happy moments along with the sad, accepting all things for what they were. That was your way.

I didn't always understand or appreciate everything you did. I was a child with my own innocent perception of the world. Now, as a grow-up, I can reflect with such admiration and respect on the wonderful woman and mother you were…

You stood with courage to meet the responsibilities that fell upon you, and sacrificed so much for the love of your children. What you have accomplished is more than you will ever realize. When I think of all that you have done for our family and all the love you have so generously poured from your heart, I feel humbled. There will never be enough gratitude to offer to you or a means to repay you. But my heart will always be filled with the joy of knowing your love. It is the most precious gift I have ever received, for it is the one you have so wisely taught me to set free and share with others.

I love you for being a caring person, a remarkable woman, and an exceptional mother. This love that you have given will forever live within me. (debbie peddle)