Vernon Everett Gunnels

Pastor Vernon E. Gunnels, Jr., departed this world at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, December 26, 2024, and was transferred to Glory. He was born January 30, 1945, in Oakland, California, to Vernon E. Sr. and Dorothy Mertz Gunnels. He honorably served in the U.S. Air Force from January 31, 1963, to January 30, 1967, during the Vietnam War. He and Delma L. Wright were married May 31, 1969, in Fresno, California. Three children were born to their union, Brian, Jeff, and Amy. Vern attended California Christian College in Fresno and received a Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministries from Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee. He was ordained to preach the gospel on September 11, 1971. His pastorates started in California and spanned across several states, concluding in Jackson, Missouri, where he maintained a successful ministry at the Cape County Jail until 2020, when Covid struck the U.S. Vern resided at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau since June 2024. To cherish his memory, Vern leaves his wife, Delma Gunnels of Jackson; children, Brian (Tabatha) Gunnels of Conway, Arkansas, Jeff (Schree) Gunnels of Puxico, Missouri; Amy Gunnels of Jackson; grandchildren: Megan (Nick) Stillwell of Memphis, Tennessee; Jared Gunnels and Jessica Gunnels of Conway; Ty Gunnels of Altamonte Springs, Florida; Evan Stephens and Allie Stephens of Jackson; Hanna Wilson of Puxico; and Noah Gunnels of Newport, Tennessee. To celebrate Vern's life, a memorial visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to service time, Saturday, January 4, 2025, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The Revs. Kevin Detweiler and Ross Gartman will conduct a memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 4, at the funeral home, followed by military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to Connection Point Church or the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Vern's obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.