Verna Lee Alfrey was born in Haskell, Texas, to Jim and Bertha Marion on April 26, 1930. During the depression, her dad was in combat on the aircraft ship the USS Lexington. The Lord protected their family for the two years while he was away. When she was young, Verna Lee accepted the Lord's leading in her life. At the age of 17, Verna Lee graduated from high school in Haskell, Texas.

They moved to Baca County in 1947 where she worked at the Walsh grocery store. Eugene Alfrey frequented the store around closing to get bones for his dogs. He offered to walk Verna Lee home from work and their courtship began. They married October 9, 1949, and lived in a  trailer house inside the round top.

Verna Lee was always available to assist Eugene at home. Some of those tasks included: baking, leather crafting, sewing for all four girls, painting a pickup outside in Baca County wind and refinishing furniture in their home. Verna Lee also had a job arranging flowers at BB Flower Shop in town. No matter what her task she was always at home for the girls when they arrived and sometime had hot cookies waiting.

Verna Lee taught herself to play the piano by making and practicing on a cardboard keyboard. She could play most anything. Soon the community began pursuing her to play the organ for local weddings and funerals.  She also enjoyed teaching  her girls to play the piano and sing together.

In 1965, Verna Lee began her ladies ministry with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She never would have dreamed how God would bless her career over the next 50 years. As a director, Verna Lee named her consultants the "Alfrey Angels" and won many friends and prizes. She found much joy and inspiration in the Dallas seminars.

Verna Lee's love and devotion was not only for her family, but for God. She faithfully attended and served at the First Baptist Church in Walsh for 70 years.  She taught Sunday School, vacation Bible school and played the organ.

Even though she had many health problems, Verna Lee never lost her faith.  She trusted completely in the Lord to guide her.

Meeting Verna Lee in heaven are her parents-Jim & Bertha Marion, husband-Eugene Alfrey, sister-in-law-Ruth Marion, and son-in-law-Norman Wright. What a happy reunion to celebrate!

She is survived by one brother Hugh Marion of Dumas, Texas, and four daughters. The daughters and their families are:

Karen & Lloyd Brown. Audrey Mauch and husband Scott and their children Lane and Macy of Greeley; Matthew Brown of Greeley.

Patricia & John Brown. Their children Jeremy Brown and his wife Mindy Brown of Saint Petersburg, Florida; Stephanie Williams and her husband Jonathan and their children Titus and Elijah of Denver; Andrea Perrett and her husband Brad of Colorado Springs.

Paulette Wright. Her children Shade Wright and his wife Marie and their children Henry, Samuel, Woodrow, Johnny of Tribune, Kansas; Lea Lavielle and her husband Michael and their children Hayden Boaldin and her husband Wesley; Abigail and Dominick of Bosie City; Gabe Wright and his wife Kyrie and their children Myra, Norman of Walsh.

Cheryl and Stan Knevelbaard of Nice, California and her children Brett Felder and his wife Adrian and their daughter Leighton of Dallas, Texas; Keelie Hauck and her husband Chris and their children Kiah and Clay of Amarillo, Texas; Karley Reeves and her husband Steven and their children Jeron and Kyson of New Castle, Oklahoma.

We could never count the list of relatives and friends whose lives have been touched by Verna Lee's generosity. She always had an open home and heart to make each of us feel so special.

As Verna Lee would say:

I love you then - I love you still.

I always have - I always will.