Raenell Vernon

            Funeral service for Beckie “Raenell” Vernon, age 94, of Tipton, Oklahoma, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 19, 2018, at the Tipton Church of Christ with Ken Waugh officiating.

            Mrs. Vernon passed away Wednesday morning, October 17, 2018, at Jackson County Memorial Hospital, in Altus. Private family burial will be in the Tipton Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Orr Gray Gish & Tipton Funeral Homes.

            She was born June 12, 1924, in Tipton, Oklahoma, to Luther Green Boyd and Lillian Bessie (Hasley) Boyd. She graduated from Tipton High School with the Class of 1941. She was united in marriage to Robert Carlton Vernon on June 27, 1942, in Tipton. He joined the United States Navy in November of 1942 and served honorably during WWII. Raenell’s strength and character was exhibited by her perseverance through many heartaches and family trials including: the separation of her newlywed husband during the war; loss of her first baby; loss of her parents; and the loss of other family members including her husband Robert. She is the end of the “Greatest Generation” for her family as well as Robert’s family. She was the family calendar and a source of historical information, as well as one to share a joke or funny story. Her wit and humor was uplifting to all. She began selling AVON in 1974 and won many awards but most important to her, she developed great friendships through this endeavor. In the mid 1990’s, she began working at the Orr Gray Gish & Tipton Funeral Homes, serving families by providing hospitality to all who walked through the doors. She had a passion to help others through their time of grief. She was a longtime active member of the Tipton Church of Christ.

            In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert, on October 30, 2000; an infant daughter: Rebecca Ann Vernon; siblings: Pebbie Boyd and husband Jimmy, Lota Dunlap and husband Richard, and Noyce Boyd and wife Jean.

            She is survived by two sons: Dennis Vernon and wife Ilena, of Altus, and Randall Vernon, of Tipton; daughter: Beckie Howdeshell, of Abilene, Texas; grandchildren: Rod Vernon and wife Deven, Rick Vernon and wife Mary, Rebecca Reed and husband Cameron, Robert Wade Vernon, Cody Howdeshell, Haley Howdeshell, and Katie Martin and husband Grayson; great grandchildren: Gage Vernon, Tyson Vernon, Austin Fuhrman, Charlie Fuhrman, Lili An Reed, Jacki Lynn Reed, and Jett Martin.

            The family wishes to thank Lupe Soliz for the tender loving care she gave Raenell prior to her entrance and residing at the nursing care center. Also special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Jackson County Memorial Hospital for their excellent and professional care.
   
            Memorial contributions may be sent to the Tipton Home, P.O. Box 370, Tipton, OK 73570, in loving memory of Raenell Vernon.