VERNON

MOUNT AIRY — Mr. Otis Lawrence Vernon, 86, of Mount Airy, passed away Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at his home. Mr. Vernon was born in Carroll County, Va., April 29, 1922, to Jake Gabriel and Iva Collins Vernon. He served our country in the United States Navy during WWII, was a retired brick mason and was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Steven Nichols of Vancouver, Wash.; two grandchildren, Elizabeth McCabe and husband, Michael, of Vancouver and Steven David Nichols of Vancouver; two sisters, Pauline Vaughn of Cana, Va., and Eunice Hawks of Mount Airy; and a brother, Earlie Vernon of Michigan. In addition to his parents, Mr. Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Estelle Hiatt Vernon; and a son, David Lawrence Vernon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy with services conducted by Dr. James Joseph with burial to follow in the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church cemetery with full military rites conducted by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard Mount Airy Post #2019 and Pilot Mountain Post #9436. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy. The family would like to express special thanks to Jill Murray and Tonya Marshall of Mountain Valley Hospice and Nancy Elledge and Lavonne Matthews of Comfort Keepers. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 123 Mt. Carmel Church Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.