Verlee Bertha Mann, 89, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at Harbor Towers Village in Oak Harbor.

Mrs. Mann was born in Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 7, 1923, to Roy and Holly (Johnson) Peterson. Orphaned as a young child, Verlee was raised by her grandparents, O.O. and Anna Johnson. She graduated from South Omaha High School, where she had been the captain of the school debate team. On June 27, 1941, Verlee married Robert D. Mann, Sr. The couple moved to Cordova, Alaska, and then to Anchorage. Several years later, they relocated to Spokane, then Milton-Freewater, Ore., and Walla Walla, before coming to Oak Harbor in 1967.

Verlee assisted Robert in both family businesses, Mann’s Pro-Hardware in both Oak Harbor and Freeland (sold in 1971) and in the CPA firm by her husband’s name. She was an incredible cook and enjoyed sewing and reading and was devoted to her family. She was involved as a leader in Camp Fire. She also raised Syrian pigeons with Robert, and they were both members of the National Pigeon Association. She was a member of St. Augustine’s Parish in Oak Harbor and later St. Mary’s in Anacortes.

Verlee is survived by her son Robert D. Mann, Jr. (Linda) of Selah; three daughters, Gloria A. Mann of Seattle, Virginia V. Miller of West Lebanon, N.Y. and Cathi M. Mann-Fisher (James) of Oak Harbor; seven grandchildren: Brenna A. Westervelt (Matt) of Seattle, Christina Seyerlein (Ed) of East Nassau, N.Y.; Amy Miller (Jim) of Castleton-on-the-Hudson, N.Y.; Sally L. Mann-Humphries (John) of Yakima; Brandon D. Fisher (Jessica), Holly A. Fisher and James R. Fisher, all of Oak Harbor; 16 great-grandchildren: Angela and Kenneth Mann; Lucy Humphries, Mason and Lucy Westervelt; Ann-Marie, William, Zachary and Abigail Seyerlein; Corey, Kendra and Christopher Houston; Chloe, Samantha, Emily and Brooklyn Fisher; also, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (to whom she was married for seventy years), a grandson Kenneth Mann, a brother Ralph and a sister Nora Adkins.

Funeral Mass will take place Friday, Aug. 24, at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Rev. Phillip Raether, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to WAIF, PO Box 1108. Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest register at www.whidbeymemorial.com.