Arthur Cook managed the Wisconsin & Arkansas Lumber Company and later Malvern Brick and Tile, and consequently exposed Verna to business matters at a young age.
[3] Fourteen years her senior, Alexander was a United States Naval Academy graduate and member of a prominent business family in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
[2] Following the death of her son and dissolution of her marriage to Lonnie Alexander, the future Verna Garvan returned to her home in Malvern.
[2] Despite their concerns and her relocation to South Carolina, Verna Cook Alexander was able to run both Wisconsin & Arkansas Lumber, and Malvern Brick and Tile[3] from afar through a hired manager.
[2] During her divorce from Alexander, Verna fought for her business interests in Arkansas and maintained control of Malvern Brick and Tile.
Garvan's personal corporation, ABCO, was dissolved after her death[2] During the dissolution of their marriage, Lonnie Alexander and Verna became entangled in a lawsuit over business investments.
This was followed by a divorce suit filed by Lonnie in South Carolina in October 1953, which included charges of slander, missing property, and failure to pay salaries.
Continuing work during her marriage to Patrick Garvan, Verna's plan was to create a home set on a beautifully landscaped lot along the shoreline of Lake Hamilton.
[2] After a significant amount of work was completed on the property Verna sought a benefactor that would agree to maintain the grounds after her death.
This led her to create an endowment agreement with the University of Arkansas that remains in effect under the Fay Jones School of Architecture.