Vernelle (Smith) Yarbrough, 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, 2014 in Houston, Texas.

Vernelle was born May 15, 1921 in Fields Store, Texas to Jeff and Blanche Smith. Vernelle's Great-Great Grandfather, Solomon Smith and his wife Emily Maxwell Smith, migrated to the Republic of Texas from the Florida panhandle in 1838 settling in Brazoria County and later in what is now Waller County. Vernelle had 3 younger brothers: Earnest Lee, James and Jeff Jr. Vernelle attended grade school in Fields Store and high school in Waller, graduating in May 1939. Vernelle was captain of the volleyball team and an excellent tennis player. Her favorite subject was economics.

Vernelle moved to Houston and attended Massey Business College and worked at Brown Shipbuilding Company during WWII. Vernelle has 2 children, Sheri (Yarbrough) Fleming and James (Sandy) Yarbrough.

After living in Houston and Louisiana, Vernelle moved back to Waller County in 1951 where she attended the Hempstead Church of Christ and worked for many years in the Hempstead bank and then moved to the Guaranty Bond State Bank in Waller where she retired in May 1986.

After retirement, Vernelle moved in with her mother to help care for her. Vernelle enjoyed working in the yard, attending church and traveling. Her most memorable trip was to Israel in 1996.

Vernelle is survived by her daughter Sheri Fleming, her son James Yarbrough and his wife Cheryl; her grandchildren Ronnie, Natalie and Steve Fleming; Daryl and Ryan Yarbrough; great grandchildren Brandon and Shawna McCranie; Stephen Fleming Jr.; Lily and Cayden Yarbrough; Dylan, Tyler and Allison Yarbrough and her brother Jeff Smith Jr. and his wife Joyce Warren Smith and sister-in-law Joyce Flukinger Smith, along with several nephews and nieces.

Vernelle was predeceased by her brothers Earnest Lee Smith in December 2009 and James Smith in September 2013.

Funeral services will be held at the Hempstead Church of Christ, Wednesday July 2, 2014 at 2:00 PM. Officiating the service will be Tom Smith, Vernelle's nephew and Minister of the Church of Christ in Parma, ID and Gene Dewveall Minister of the Church of Christ in Hempstead. Pallbearers: Daryl Yarbrough, Ryan Yarbrough, Steve Fleming, Steve Smith, Gary Smith and Tim Smith.

Visitation will be at the Canon Funeral Home Tuesday, July 1, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Vernelle will be buried alongside her father, Jeff; her mother Blanche and her brother Earnest Lee and his wife Dorothy in the Fields Store Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Woodwind Lakes Health and Rehabilitation Center for their great care and attention, as well as Vantage Hospice.