Verdonna Roberta Mayes, 81, passed from this world March 22nd, 2025, in the early morning hours. Verdonna was born January 4th, 1944, at San Jose Hospital in San Jose, California  to Jack Max Mayes and Donna Louise Mayes.

Verdonna grew up in San Jose, California, with one younger brother, John M. Mayes. Her father brought home wild horses for Verdonna to break and train, which ignited a passion for horse training that led her to participate in barrel racing rodeos all through the valley. The fair grounds were her second home, along with her prize winning quarter horse, Champ. She had many adventures with her brother riding their horses in the mountains and orchards throughout the years and gained an insight on horse training. Verdonna graduated from Camden High School in 1961.

In 1961, she was featured in the local newspaper for chasing down two purse snatchers who stole a woman's handbag who was visiting a loved one at a cemetery until police arrived. Later that year, Verdonna entered into the Firemen's Rodeo Queen competition and finished first place, receiving the crown at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds.

November 4th,1962 she married Kenneth T Kelley and together they brought three children into the world; Dayna A. Parkinson, Kenneth T. Kelley, and Evette L. Kelley. Verdonna and Kenneth eventually divorced in 1979. She went on to work diligently to raise her three children; She was a hardworking, dedicated mother and loved her children very much. She worked tirelessly to provide a home for her children.

Verdonna started off at Fireman's Fund as a secretary and went on to work at various insurance companies. In 1963, she was hired at Lockheed Corporation  in Sunnyvale, California as a secretary to an engineering unit. She left Lockheed and trained in the medical field to pursue a career working as a freelance medical records transcriptionist traveling throughout the country. In 1992, she moved to Boise and worked at St. Alphonsus Hospital as a transcriptionist.

Verdonna retired and dedicated her time to take care of her mother, Donna, eventually moving to Idaho. In 2004, Verdonna and her mother moved to Rexburg to be closer to her daughter, Dayna, and family. This gave her an opportunity to expand her love for artwork and spent many hours painting landscapes and grandchildren, who she adored. She was an avid gardener, pet rescue volunteer,cat lover, reader, artist, and had a deep passion for cooking. Spending hours reading recipes and trying to recreate them for her family.

Verdonna was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She is survived by her three children; Dayna A. Parkinson, late husband, Phillip B. Parkinson; of Rexburg, Idaho. Kenneth T. Kelley, wife, Donna Kelley; of Vancouver, Washington; Evette L. Kelley-Victoria; of Hacienda Heights, California.

Graveside services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 29th at the Sugar City Cemetery.  Family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and again Saturday morning from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. both times at Flamm Funeral Home.

Finally, the family would like to sincerely thank Brio Healthcare for their continued support during her difficult illness.