Berneda ‘Neta’ Usery | 76 | Grafton

Berneda “Neta” Usery, 76, passed away at 3:15 a.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at her home in Grafton.
Neta was born on Sept. 5, 1949, in Grafton, the daughter of the late John Andrew and Edith Louise (Larbey) Nairn. A lifelong Jersey County resident, she was deeply rooted in her community and proud of the life she built there. She graduated with the Class of 1967 from Jersey Community High School, carrying with her the friendships and values that would remain important throughout her life.
It was while working at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton that Neta met the love of her life, Robert Monroe “Bob” Usery. Bob was stationed with the United States Army at the NIKE Military Base, and their meeting marked the beginning of a partnership grounded in love, commitment, and mutual devotion. Following Bob’s service in Vietnam, the two were united in marriage on Nov. 1, 1969, at the Grafton Methodist Church. Together, they shared nearly five decades of marriage and raised two children, building a home filled with warmth, hard work, and care for others. Bob preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 2019.
Neta’s life was one of service, creativity, and connection. Early on, she worked as a beautician out of her home, forming lasting friendships with the many people who sat in her chair and trusted her not only with their hair, but with their stories. She later dedicated many years to Jersey Community Unit School District #100, first as a cook at Grafton Elementary School and later as a custodian at both Grafton Elementary and East Elementary in Jerseyville. She took great pride in her work, finding purpose in caring for spaces where children learned and grew, and she was known for her reliability, kindness, and quiet dedication.
Outside of work, Neta found joy in the simple, meaningful things. She loved scrapbooking and quilting, carefully preserving memories and creating keepsakes that reflected her thoughtful nature. She enjoyed playing cards with her card clubs, spending time laughing and visiting with friends. Her creative eye showed through in her silk flower arrangements, and her love for tending her garden, especially her tomatoes and peppers, brought her both peace and pride.Family remained the center of her world, and her greatest joy came from time spent with them.
She is survived by her two children and their spouses, Douglas and Natasha Usery of Hartford, Alabama and Leah and David Brunkow of Maryland Heights, Missouri; two grandchildren, Maeli Belle and Saxon Usery; two sisters, Doris Whitlock of Godfrey and Virginia Thibodaux of Virginia.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles “Bucky” Nairn and Gerald “Windy” Nairn, and two sisters, Emma Louise Bradley and Maxine Taulman.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday. Burial will follow at Scenic Hill Cemetery in Grafton.
Memorials may be given to the Jersey Community Unit School District #100 Foundation or to the Riverbend Humane Society.
Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com