Emory Vernon Anderson

Emory Vernon Anderson, or just “Vernon” recently celebrated his 100th Birth- day with a party at Christian Care Senior Living Community in Allen, TX. Honored with a proclamation from the Mayor of Allen, many came to celebrate “Vernon Anderson Day” this past July. Vernon was born in the small country town of Olustee, Oklahoma, which you would not be able to find on a map these days. Born to Bascom and Lillie Mae Anderson, Vernon also had two brothers, Paul and Chester and one sister, Evelyn. His father and all siblings lived well into their 90’s. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a wheat farmer in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska before he came on board with Standard Register Company. After being transferred to several different cities, Vernon settled in Dallas, TX. He came to work for Pitney Bowes and worked there for 29 years before retiring. Vernon met his bride, Modena Gibbs, in Dallas, as she was working at Safeway Grocery. They fell in love and married on May 4, 1944. They recently celebrat- ed their 73rd Wedding Anniversary. Vernon and Modena were blessed with “two precious adopted daughters” in 1965 and 1966 – Lisa Kay and Karen Elaine. Being able to raise them at First Baptist Church, Dallas, and sending them to Christian Universities was a blessing in their family life. Vernon and Modena prayed for Christian husbands and He answered their prayers with Steve Collins, Jr., and Michael Berry: one a pastor; the other a surgeon. God later blessed them with six beautiful grandchildren, Stephen Collins III, Sheri- dan Berry, Hannah Collins, Christian Berry, Sarah Collins and Charlotte Berry. Vernon loved the country more than anything and over his lifetime he owned and worked multiple farms. He loved working with his hands. You could always find him at his workbench in his garage. He loved woodworking, repairing, or just tinkering around. It can be said that Vernon or “Poppy” as his grandkids called him, never had idle hands. In fact, he mowed his own yard up until the age of 95. If you stopped by and found Vernon wearing a blue work shirt and his red bandana tied around his head, you knew there was work to be done. Idleness was never in his vocabulary. Vernon Anderson came to know Christ at a young age, but deepened his faith after joining First Baptist Dallas, and was later baptized by Dr. W.A. Criswell. His children also followed his leading and accepted Christ at young ages. Vernon led by example by praying and reading God’s Word in his home. He always had his Bible next to his favorite chair and read it every day. (His Bible was also located near his favorite candy stash.) As a volunteer, Vernon helped out in many areas of the church. He taught Sunday School, drove a bus, chaper- oned on Clarion and Chapel Choir tours, helped in the media ministry, and was always present at Junior Camp cutting the watermelons! He was fondly known as Millie Kohn’s “Volunteer”. Vernon lived a full life and we praise the Lord for giving us a century of godly influence and servitude.