VERNON HALL ABNEY 
(AUGUST 29, 1915 - OCTOBER 23, 1981)  

 VERNON HALL ABNEY was born August 29, 1915 in Stratford,  Oklahoma.  He was a life long resident of  Oklahoma.  He married Delma Minnie Mercer on February 14, 1936 in Stratford.  His wife, Delma Mercer, was the sister of Katie Mercer, who married Vernon's older brother, Tom Abney.  Vernon finished the 8th grade in school.  That was typical for his era.  He didn't receive any encouragement to go further.  Vernon loved to fish and was very successful in that effort.  He retired from the Oklahoma City Stockyards.  Vernon died in Oklahoma City on October 23, 1981.  On the day of his death he had just finished doing yard work for a neighbor and had sat down on the porch to rest.  He lay back to relax and died of a heart attack.  Vernon's services were held in Trinity Freewill Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, officiated by pastor DeArthur Yandell.  Vernon was raised as a Missionary Baptist, but at the time of his death, his membership was with Trinity Freewill Baptist.  Vernon is buried in the Abney Cemetery.

The Vernon Hall Family
Vernon Hall Abney, Delma Minnie Mercer Abney, Lillian Minnie Abney-Tuley & Irene Abney-Carey

DELMA MINNIE MERCER-ABNEY 
(MARCH 29, 1916 - JANUARY 3, 1995)  

 DELMA MINNIE MERCER- ABNEY was born March 29, 1916.  She married Vernon Hall Abney on Feb. 14, 1936.  Vernon was a younger brother of Thomas Isaac Abney, who had married Delma's older sister, Katie Mercer.  Delma was a home maker all her life.  She died on January 3, 1995.  Her services were officiated by her nephew, Jesse Spurlock, in the Pickard Funeral Home Chapel, Stratford, Okla.  She is buried beside Vernon in the Abney Cemetery.  

The eulogy delivered by Jesse Spurlock stated, Aunt Delma was married to my Uncle Vernon.  She made a good home for her family.  She and Vernon raised three fine girls.  When I graduated from high school, I moved to Oklahoma City and stayed in their home, while waiting to enter the Marines.  They accepted me into their family and treated me like their own son.  Aunt Delma was a good cook and a homemaker in the best sense of the word.  She always maintained a clean and pleasant home.  Delma Mercer-Abney was saved as a very young girl.  She was baptized by the authority of the Prairie View Missionary Baptist Church.  She was baptized in a farm pond just north and west of the church.  She was a member of the Southwest Friendship Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, at the time of her death.  She had been faithful in her church attendance throughout her life.  However, for the last several years, she had been unable to attend because of health.  She had a good reputation with the community.  I'm glad she was my aunt.@