Mrs. Vernon was born November 12, 1917, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Josiah "Joe" Crowley and Delia (East) Crowley. As a small girl at six years old she moved to Tipton, Oklahoma, with her sister Loretta and was raised by her aunt and uncle, Mittie and U. P. Buche. She graduated from Tipton High School and married Harry Vernon on June 15, 1937 and spent most of her 60 years of marriage in Tipton, Oklahoma. In 2007, Dorothy Gene moved to Plum Creek Healthcare Center in Amarillo, Texas, and resided there until her death. Dorothy Gene was a homemaker and had four children: Homer Arthur, Wanda Gene, Eldon and Larry. She was preceded in death by her husband: Harry, on November 9, 1997; her parents: Joe and Delia Crowley; her aunt and uncle: Mittie and U. P. Buche; her two sisters: Loretta and Lois and two children: Homer Arthur and Wanda Gene. Survivors include two sons: Eldon and wife Donita, of Amarillo, Texas, and Larry and wife Marylin, of Cleburne, Texas; nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren, a nephew: Royce and a niece: Barbara.