Violet Ernestine “Vi” Arnold, 87, Highlands Ranch, Colo., died Sunday, December 21, 2008.

She was born Jan. 6, 1921, in Guthrie, Okla., to Wade Hampton and Teresa Magdalene Meagher Jenkins. She graduated from Guthrie High School in 1939 and married Walter Lee Arnold in Guthrie on Sept. 2, 1942.

The Arnolds made their home in Guthrie and she was a legal secretary, working in the Oklahoma State Legislature in Oklahoma City, Okla., for many years.

She accepted Christ at an early age and lived for Him each day of her life.

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Dr. Cheryl Arnold, Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Teresa Cornish Haskins and Dr. Robert Haskins, Chanute; seven adored grandchildren and their spouses, Laurie and Clayton Ward, Chanute, Brian and Karen Cornish, Olathe, Blake and Holly Cornish, Los Angeles, Calif., Chad and Melissa Cornish, Lampe, Mo., Brad Merrill, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Seth and Liz Merrill, Denver, Colo., and Grant Merrill, Broomfield, Colo.; six great-grandchildren, Madolyn Merrill, Emilee Ward, Molly Ward, William Butch Cornish, Madeline Violet Cornish and Orville Cornish; a sister, Edith Oswald, Guthrie; and a brother and sister-in-law, Manford and Thelma Jenkins, Guthrie.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to Porter Hospice at the Johnson Center, 5020 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80122; or the Cherry Street Youth Center, 710 North Forest, Chanute, KS 66720.