Patsy Johnston Vernon

On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Patsy lost her battle with cancer. We are sad for our loss, but thankful for her gain to be pain free and celebrating eternal life with the Lord. Patsy Delores Johnston Vernon was born September 3, 1939 in Logan, New Mexico to Herman B. and Rose Irene (Harvey) Johnston. Her family moved to Tucumcari, NM where she attended Tucumcari High School where she was voted Miss Tucumcari High School and graduated in 1957. Patsy married her high school sweetheart, Dean C. Vernon, Sr. on October 19, 1957 at First Baptist Church in Tucumcari. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Grants, NM then in Lubbock, TX. Patsy worked as a cashier for Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store, helping to support the family while Dean was attending Barber college. Their son, Dean, Jr. was born while they lived in Lubbock. In 1959, they moved to Carlsbad, NM, she was a homemaker while Dean started his barber career. They then had their first daughter, Kristie in 1960 and later their second daughter, Sonja in 1969. Patsy was a member of Blodgett Street Baptist Church and actively participated in a local sorority when she and Dean first moved to Carlsbad, making many dear lifelong friends. Patsy will be forever remembered for her unwavering faith, patience and loving, tender nature. She loved sharing the Lord with others and helped introduce Him to her children and grandchildren. She was always very caring and looked after others, being everyone's shoulder to cry on, ear to vent to and always providing a comforting word. Patsy was always very giving and never expected much for herself. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she went the extra mile making it festive, fun and memorable for everyone. She loved family gatherings, parties, cookouts and playing games like 31 and dominos...she was quite the competitor. She loved her family very much and was always the quiet, behind the scenes strength for her family. She loved caring for and spending time with her 3 children: Dean C. Vernon, Jr. and wife, Brigitte of Carlsbad, NM, Kristie Merkel and husband, Ed of Carlsbad, NM, Sonja Chatfield of Maricopa, AZ; 10 grandchildren: Amber Willier, Stephanie Patterson, Deana Rogers, Joana Wells, Ashlyn Chatfield, Joseph Robinson, Bradley Davis, Brennan Davis, Lane Chatfield, Lanndan Chatfield; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Wilma Miller and husband, Donnie of Albuquerque, NM, numerous nieces and nephews and her dogs, Sassy, Sammy and Sadie. Patsy was preceded in death by her husband, Dean C. Vernon, Sr.; her parents; sisters: Alna Cooper, Oletha Yocom; brothers: Alton and Troy Johnston and son-in-law, Randy Chatfield. A visitation will be held 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Thursday, May 29, 2014 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, May 30, 2014 at Blodgett Street Baptist Church with Pastor David Prell officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers will be Joseph Robinson, Bradley Davis, Brennan Davis, Tim Rogers, Raymond Wells, Wyatt Bolen, Mike Willier and Brian Dobson. Honorary pallbearers are Lane Chatfield and Lanndan Chatfield. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1856, Clovis, NM 88101. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com