VerNell Stone

VerNell Coble Stone left this earth and went to her heavenly home to be with her Savior on August 8, 2017, at the age of 95 years 7 months and 18 days. VerNell was born at home on a ranch just east of Lometa on December 22, 1921 to Myrtie Mae (Mauldin) and Clyde Elmer Coble. She grew up in Lampasas County, in and around the Lometa area. She told many stories to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren of walking to school and riding either a burro or horse several miles to attend school. She graduated from Lometa in 1941 and attended college in Austin for a year. She graduated high school two years later than she should due to a country school near Kempner not giving report cards so the Lometa School made her repeat first grade; and taking one last accounting class in the fall of 1940. VerNell worked at many jobs throughout her youth helping neighbors with canning, taking care of young children, and ironing for 8 hours a day for the Lometa Laundromat, or just about any job she could find. She worked as a maid and waited tables in Austin while attending business school. She met the love of her life, Quince Harmon Stone, as a teenager while attending a community dance with family and friends. After dating for several years, Quince was drafted into the Army for a year. With the outbreak of WWII he was then stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso. One day, while VerNell was living in Austin, she received a small box in the mail from Quince that contained an engagement ring and a note stating they would be married the in a month when Quince was home for furlough. Not the most romantic of proposals, but it worked. VerNell left her job and her classes and returned home the day before Quince arrived. They married the next day in Lampasas at the home of Reverend R.A. Mathison. The following day, Fort Hood had its grand opening and they attended with the Stone family. This marriage lasted 69 years until Quince’s death in 2012. Upon returning to Lampasas County after the WWII, they purchased property east of Lometa from Mr. Bill Wright and began renovation on their 4 room farm house. They raised sheep, cattle and hogs. They lived there for over 60 years before moving to Lampasas in 2005 at the insistence of their children. In 1956 Quince took a correspondence course on repairing radios and televisions. He opened a repair shop in San Saba. In 1960, Quince and VerNell purchased Clayton Hendley’s “Home and Repair Shop” in Lometa, TX, and changed the name to “Stone’s TV & Appliance”. VerNell worked at the store for 20 years until Quince joked about retiring in 1980. She took him very seriously and picked up her bag and walked out of the store to never return. They then sold the store and retired to their ranch. VerNell and Quince were blessed with three children, Charles Glynn, Paula Nell and Beverly Jean. VerNell was a member of the Friendship Home Demonstration Club for over 20 years, a 4-H Club Leader in Lometa, a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Lometa Lions Club Auxiliary. Neither VerNell nor Quince truly ever retired as they were frequently called upon to drive Lampasas and Lometa residents to medical visits to Killeen, Temple and Austin. VerNell was the first trained Ombudsman representative for the elderly in Lampasas County, working many years with this organization working with nursing homes and the elderly in the area. VerNell and Quince loved traveling, especially taking their grandchildren on a special trip for each of their 13th birthdays. They traveled throughout the U. S. pulling a pop up camper and took several wonderful cruises to the Caribbean and to Alaska. Their 63rd anniversary was a return trip with all of their children to Alaska. VerNell was a member of the Lometa Church of Christ until their move to Lampasas where she transferred her membership to the First Street Church of Christ. VerNell was an excellent seamstress and quilter. She loved to make dresses for her granddaughters and jeans and shirts for her grandsons. She also judged many 4-H clothing shows along with her daughter, Paula. Her home was always full of activity, even in her retirement years. She always had prepared homemade rolls and sweet treats just waiting for company to visit. VerNell and Quince helped incorporate Center Cemetery. Quince served as President and maintained the grounds and VerNell as Secretary for the Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Quince Harmon Stone in 2012, parents Clyde Elmer & Myrtie Mae (Mauldin) Coble, sister & brother in law Clyde Arlene & Jimmie Roye, brother and sister in law James Elmer & Nan (Duncan) Coble. She is survived by son Charles G. Stone and wife Jacqulyn of Caldwell, TX., daughter Paula N. Landrum of Lampasas, daughter Beverly J. and husband W. Craig Sullivan of Goldthwaite, TX. Grandchildren: Karyn (Stone) & spouse Mike Green of Lampasas; Tracy (Stone) Brewer & spouse Bo Brewer of Caldwell, TX.; C. Michael Stone of Lometa, TX.; W. Craig “Bill” Sullivan, II & spouse Jenifer of Blue Ridge, TX.; Brad & spouse Dawn Bowers; Britney (Bowers) & spouse Coley Garza of Caldwell, TX. Greatgrandchildren: Ashley, Zane & Abbey Green; Quint Stone, Quade, Jacy & Jaxon Anderson; Ashlyn and fiancé Alan Brookshire and Tori Sullivan; Rylee & Allison Bowers; Caylee, Blane & Brant (#12) Garza; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends. The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the wonderful caregivers who of Interim. Pallbearers are J.T. Bryant, Bill Sullivan, Zane Green, Quint Stone, Mike Stone and Mike Green Honorary Pallbearers are Ashlyn & Tori Sullivan, Ashley Green, Quade Anderson, Neal Bryant & Bo Brewer. Visitation will be held Friday, August 11th, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at Sneed Funeral Chapel, Lampasas, TX. The service for VerNell will be held Saturday, August 12th, at 10:00 am at Sneed Funeral Chapel Lampasas with Rocky Moncus officiating. Interment will be at the Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Center Cemetery Association at 8233 Cr 101 Lampasas, TX 76550.