Verna "Earlene" (Hicks) Calvert, age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded in love by her family on November 22, 2016. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 71 years. She was an LPN at Penrose Hospital, caring for patients on the orthopedic and cancer floors, retiring in 1993.

Earlene was born on April 20, 1928 to Earl Jackson and Verna (Huffaker) Hicks in Lubbock, Texas. She was the only infant of five to survive from this union of marriage. After the early passing of her parents, she was raised by her uncle and aunt, Herman and Ollie Huffaker and their seven children. She graduated from Tahoka High School in 1945. On September 17, 1949, she married Paul Calvert in Colorado Springs.

She was very active in the Nazarene Church, serving as a board member, director of various children's programs, and Sunday School teacher. In her later years, she became a member of the First Southern Baptist Church. Although she was no longer able to accomplish the tasks of her youth, her radiant smile and love for Jesus encouraged all those around her.

Earlene's greatest legacy was the love she bestowed upon her four children. She instilled in each of them a love for Jesus and devotion to family. Her quiet strength and gentle spirit will be so greatly missed by the children she left behind: Deryl Calvert (Jodi), Paula Fish (Delbert), Sherry Morton (Jim), Cindy Church (Mike); 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 2, at First Southern Baptist Church, 1409 Palmer Park Blvd. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery. A reception will follow at First Southern Baptist Church.

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