Verna Highley-Fordyce

Verna Highley Fordyce, age 70, of Middletown, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at the Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties. She was born on February 19, 1943 in Middletown, the daughter of Vernon Highley and Ruby Trimble Highley. She graduated from Middletown High School in 1961, attended Ohio University, graduating in 1965, and then graduated from Wright State University where she earned a Master's Degree in Counseling. Verna started her career in teaching at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio from 1965 to 1966. She then taught 2nd grade for the next six years at Fairview Elementary in Cincinnati, and then her remaining 33 ½ years she taught for Middletown City Schools at Mayfield Elementary. During her teaching career, Verna was nominated by two of her student's mothers for the Crystal Apple Award. Verna sincerely loved every student she ever taught and loved teaching them reading. Anytime Verna would run into one of her old students, they always said she was the best teacher they ever had. She was also a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Oyer, Inc. from 1981 through 1985, and from 2000 until 2004. She was active in Big Brothers and Sisters. She was a member of the Forest Hills Country Club and Breiel Boulevard First Church of God. Verna is survived by her husband, Warren "Butch" Fordyce; her mother, Ruby Highley of Middletown; one brother, Vernon Ray Highley; one sister, Rita Tibbs; a niece, Amy Cox Josh Deaton; nephews, Benjamin Tiffany Highley, Peter Katie Highley; an uncle, Herbert Trimble; aunts, Mildred Pierce, Lucymae McNabb; and numerous cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her aunt, Winifred Slimak. As per Verna's wishes, her body was cremated. There will be a memorial service celebrating Verna's life 2:00 PM Sunday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home with Reverend David Harris officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to P.A.W.S., 2790 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, P.O. Box 684, Middletown, Ohio 45042 or Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420. Arrangements are by the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home. A guestbook is available at www.breitenbachfuneralhome.com.