Vernita Jean "Nita" Bishop

Our family is honored that you have all come to join us to celebrate the life of Vernita Jean Bishop. We won the lottery when it came to the matriarch of our family. This woman was so many things to so many people in her eighty-eight years. She embraced life like it was nobody’s business, but she made everyone her business. She was Nita to Grandpa and friends. Mom to three daughters and a son. She was Grandma to twelve grandkids, great grandma to twenty-two great grandkids and one great-great grandchild. But she was also grandma to an army of kids that she was happy to claim.

She had a smile that she shared with the world and when you saw it you knew the world was right. Always ready for a hug and she made sure you were always well fed and included in every fun game or project she was doing.

And there was the quick-witted ornery side full of mischief. She loved to party and would dance every chance she got. Grandma could dress to turn heads but run a chainsaw along a fence row.

This woman dropped out of high school, raised a family, widowed at sixty-four, got her GED at sixty-five, earning her a scholarship to Independence College where she earned an associate degree.

Vernita Jean Bloomer was born in Kansas City, February 2, 1935, and died in Topeka, Kansas, May 1, 2023.

Father: Raymond Bloomer

Mother: Velora Bloomer

Childhood years were spent in Rantoul, Kansas.

Vernita attended Ottawa High School where she met Evan Bishop. Vernita and Evan were married May 26, 1951. Together they owned and operated Bishop’s Dairy Ring in Baldwin, Kansas. In 1967, they packed up and moved with their growing family of four kids for a job opportunity for Evan in Long Beach, California. Evan suffered a disabling workplace injury soon after the move. Nita went to work for Southwestern Bell as an information operator to support the family. After three short years, they headed back to Kansas. They moved around to several Kansas towns where Evan managed feedlots and hay plants. Nita was always there working alongside as a bookkeeper. They eventually ended up on a small farm at Elk Falls, Kansas where Nita retired. Her happy years were spent there. Evan passed in 1999, leaving Nita alone to take care of the farm. She teamed up with Jim DeVore, a childhood friend for the next several years. When it came time to give up the farm she moved to Newton, Kansas then Topeka, Kansas to be around family. She spent her last days in Topeka.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Evan Bishop and daughter, Brenda K. Reddell.

Survivors include her daughters, Sandy Irby of Zwolle, Louisiana, and Chris Midgley (Sam) of Meriden, Kansas; and son, Jeff Bishop of Severy, Kansas.

She lives on in her kids and thirty-five grandkids, great grandkids, and one great great.

Services to be held at Dengel and Son Mortuary in Ottawa, Kansas, at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Viewing will be from 9:00 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. prior to the service.

Internment will be at Highland Cemetery after the service.

After ceremony…We would love for all of you to join us at Westminister Presbyterian Church, 401 W 13th Street, for some tasty food from Smoked Creations. We can eat good, visit and exchange stories of this lady we are celebrating.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Midland Care Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.