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HOWARD  L.  VERNER

Howard L. Verner, 86, of Murphy died Sunday (Dec. 16, 2007) in Copper Basin Medical Center.  A native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Julius Milton Sr. and Carrie Ada Torrence Verner.  He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Navy while being stationed at Pearl Harbor.  He was owner of a general mercantile store for 50 years where he had sold groceries, tires, and used cars and operated a bait and tackle shop in the Fields of the Wood community.  He was a member of the Farner Presbyterian Church and loved to play and sing blue grass and gospel music.  
 
Howard was preceded in death by two brothers, Cecil and Warren Verner; and a sister, Ruth Verner.
 
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Edith Hedrick Verner; two daughters, Linda Ledford and husband, Billy Ray and Barbara Bryant and husband, James all of Murphy; three sisters, Mildred Collins of Ducktown, TN, Betty Lovern of LaFayette, GA, and Florence Loudermilk of Turtletown, TN;  two brothers, Fred Verner of Turtletown and J.M Verner Jr. of Murphy; three grandchildren, Brian Ledford and wife, Kelly of Mineral Bluff, GA, Jamie Rodriguez and husband, Brian of Winder, GA, and Heather Lepper and husband, Cory of Minnetonka, MN; and a great granddaughter, Abbie Ledford.
 
Funeral services at 11:00 AM Wednesday (Dec. 19) in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev.. Wayne Hall officiating. Interment in Farner Presbyterian Church Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the American Legion Post 96, DAV Chapter 73, VFW Post 10222, and Hayesville VFW Post 6812 (Allison-Bristol) and Rev. Josh Ledford officiating.  Pallbearers:  Brad Ledford, Brian Rodriguez, Tom Miller, Josh Ledford, Phillip Ledford, and Bill Cochran.  Honorary pallbearers:  Nephews and Frank Hedrick, Jess Loudermilk, Tom Murphy, and Thurman, Ray, and Randall Hamby.
 
The family will receive friends from 6-8 Tuesday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.
 
The family requests memorials be made in memory of Howard L. Verner to the Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644.
 
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.
 
 

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