Vernal A Lister's Obituary
Vernal Lister passed away on January 4, 2022 at the age of 99. He was born in Kaufman, Texas in 1922. As a young man, he served in the US Navy during World War II. After the war, Vernal turned his attention to what would become his lifelong passions—education and farming.
Vernal attended Prairie View College and received a degree in Education. What followed were decades of mentoring young people, teaching them not only to become good students but also to become good adults. Today, there are countless former students who credit "Mr. Lister" for setting them on a successful path in life.
Throughout the years, Vernal also nurtured his love of farming. He owned and raised cattle. He taught numerous young men to do the same through his involvement with Future Farmers of America.
Vernal's dedication and effective leadership as an educator were widely recognized, resulting in his appointment as Principal of Club Hill Elementary School in Garland, Texas. However, the greatest recognition of his impact on the field of education is the naming of a school in his honor by the Garland Independent School District. The Vernal Lister Elementary School stands as a testament to the countless young lives Vernal touched and changed for the better, and as an enduring tribute to a remarkable teacher, mentor, and man.
Vernal was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Juanice and his sister, Hattie and brother, William. He is survived by his daughter, Vickie, niece Joan and nephews William, Wallace, and Wayne, great-niece and great-nephews William, Francine, Wallace, David, and Mark, as well as their spouses, partners, and children.
Vernal's passing is also mourned by numerous other family and friends who miss him greatly and who will always hold dear his memory.
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