Vernon Vogel

Vernon Kenneth Vogel, 76, passed away on August 25th, 2013 after a long struggle with cancer in the presence of his family and surrounded by their love. Vernon was born in Waco, Texas, and spent his childhood in the nearby town of McGregor. His daddy worked construction and, throughout Vernon's early adolescence and teenage years, would hitchhike from one town to another to find work and a place to live, and then save up the bus fare for his family to join him. They eventually landed in Burnet, where Vernon decided to finish high school by living with his football coach while his parents moved to Dallas. A knee injury would cut this plan short and he reluctantly moved to be with his family in the middle of his senior year. His "misfortune" was later shown to be an act of divine providence, as he met a young blonde that same year named Teddie Pairsh, with whom he fell in love and married on June 22nd, 1957. They were blessed with three children: daughter Vikki, son Kregg, and youngest daughter Valli. Ever the family man, Vernon did his best to provide for all their needs and then some. It was not rare for him to commute an hour to work through traffic, work all day, drive an hour back home, and then load the family up to drive back "into town" to take them all to dinner or to catch a Rangers game. He loved golf and fishing and deer hunting, things most men do to get away from their families, but always seemed to want to bring his along for the ride (even if they weren't always so interested in going). Even when he began to prefer sitting in the cabin with a cup of coffee over the deer blind with binoculars, his greatest joy was seeing his son Kregg light up with excitement after a successful hunt. Though he never finished college (by his own admission, he liked playing dominoes more than going to class), Vernon worked his way up from retail management with M.E. Moses, to sales with Kimberly Clark and, later, with Lew Wenzel, a graphic arts supplier. In 1972, he co-founded ABV Graphics, of which he later became the sole proprietor and ran successfully for the better part of three decades. His success in the downward-spiraling printing business amid the onset of the digital age was a testament to his principled leadership, his wise decision-making, and, as he would often remind anyone who asked, the unmerited favor of God. His unyielding faith was the narrative thread that held Vernon's life together: from preaching his first sermon in Burnet at the age of 18, to his work with junior high boys at First Baptist Church of Irving, to the countless Bible studies and Sunday school classes he taught at First Baptist of Maypearl, Vernon devoted his life to serving God by teaching the Bible to others. As he was fond of saying, "It is much more important to know what the Bible means by what it says than to simply know what it says." He joined First Baptist Church of Maypearl in 1973, where he was ordained as a deacon in 1976, and remained a faithful member there until his death. He leaves many faithful men and women of God in his wake whose lives have been significantly impacted by his dedication to following Jesus. Vernon is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Teddie; his children, Vikki, Kregg, Valli and her husband Kevin; his grandchildren, Karen and her husband John, Pairsh, Kelci, and Cameron; his great-granddaughter Gemma; by his sister, Patricia, and brother, Jerry; and by many nephews and nieces whose lives are richer for his having been a part of them. He was preceded in death by his father and mother and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family will have visitation at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas on Wednesday, August 28th, from 6 PM - 8 PM. Services to celebrate his life will be held at First Baptist Church of Maypearl on Thursday, August 29th, at 2 PM. Interment will follow at Oak Branch Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Pairsh-Vogel Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Dallas Theological Seminary. Arrangements are under the direction of Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie. www.waynebozefuneralhome.com

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