Vernie Pearl (Shannon) Gray

Vernie Pearl (Shannon) Gray, age 86, passed away in her sleep on Nov. 29, 2014 at the Woodland Hills Nursing Home in Jacksonville, Ark. She was a longtime member of the Austin Station Baptist Church. As a graduate of Central Baptist College (Conway, Ark.) with a degree in education. Vernie taught school in the Cabot school system for several years. Many will remember her as the postmaster of the Austin Post Office, where she served for 28 years. She was also proud of her service during WWII, when she served on the detonator line at the ordnance plant in Jacksonville. Visitation will be on Tuesday, the second of December from 6 to 8 p.m. at Smith - Westbrook Funeral Home (404 West Dewitt Henry Drive, Beebe, Ark.). A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, the third of December at 2 p.m. at the same location. Burial will follow at the Sixteenth Section Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her father, Rufus Griffin and mother, Ella Folks Griffin; brother, James Griffin; sisters, Louis Pruett, Ila Mae Malone and husbands, James Champlin and Joe Shannon. She is survived by her husband, Franklin D. Gray of Austin, Ark.; son, Michael Champlin and daughter-in-law, Betty Champlin of Sherwood, Ark.; grandchildren, James Champlin of Austin, Texas, Julie Champlin of Little Rock, Ark.; niece, Helen Pruett and nephew, David Malone. Arrangements by Smith – Westbrook Funeral Home: www.smithfamilycares.com.