Vernon Lee Crow

Vernon Lee Crow was born August 23, 1944, in Ferndale, Arkansas, to parents Ira and Virgie Crow. He died peacefully at home in Roland, Arkansas, on January 22, 2023.

Vernon grew up in Ferndale, Arkansas. He attended Joe T. Robinson High School, where he played football. He and Geneva married in November 1964. An unplanned meeting at the high school carnival led to their first date. It didn't take long for him to declare his love for her and his future intentions. The newlyweds lived and worked for a short time in downtown Little Rock. They built a home and moved to Roland, Arkansas, where they raised their two children, Kelley and Lee.

Vernon worked most of his adult life as a carpenter. He took great pride in the homes he built and often pointed them out on drives around Little Rock with his kids and grandkids.

In addition to carpentry, Vernon enjoyed fishing and cooking. His cornbread dressing, chocolate pies, and coconut pies were always Thanksgiving favorites. Family fish fries always drew a crowd. In later years, he enjoyed cooking chicken strips, gravy, and mashed potatoes, especially for his grandchildren. Wednesday nights, he could always be found at church cooking a meal for the surrounding community.

Vernon used his gifts of carpentry for volunteer mission work. He worked on church projects in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. He worked with and supervised teams in building new structures, repairing and updating old ones, and rebuilding following hurricanes and tornadoes.

His mission work led him to travel to London, Guatemala, and Brazil. His trips to Brazil numbered nineteen and included several boat trips on the Amazon. Vernon had hoped to make it twenty. He was known to leave behind his clothing, work boots, gloves, and tools so others could continue the work and give candy to the local children.

Vernon was a kind man of quiet strength and deep faith. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and looked forward to welcoming his first great-grandchild in May. His impact on this world was far-reaching, and he was loved by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Virgie Crow, brother Roy Crow, and sister Betty Goodson. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of fifty-eight years, Geneva Crow. Vernon is survived by his daughter Kelley and husband Gart, son Lee and wife Amanda, and brother Sam Crow, sisters Susan Crow and Wanda Christian. Known as Papa, Vernon is remembered by his grandchildren Robert and Erin Morris, Rachel Morris, Ryan Morris, Bethany Crow, and Bailey Crow.

In place of flowers, our family suggests donations to Wye Mountain Baptist Church.

Funeral service will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Wye Mountain Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Vollman Cemetery.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.--