Vernie Lee Murray, 86, of California, Missouri, died Sunday, July 17, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri.  She was born January 15, 1930 in Eldon, MO to Everett Lester Connell and Hildred Clemence (Slote) Connell.  She was a lifelong resident of mid-Missouri, having lived in Jefferson City and California.  She was married November 30, 1946 to Eugene Cecil Garrison, who preceded her in death on July 5, 1969.  They had three sons: Jerry Garrison who died as an infant, David Eugene Garrison, and Tommy Joe Garrison. Vernie was baptized at an early age in the Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Stringtown, MO.

She later married Hiram Wilson Garrison on October 20, 1974, and remained married to him until his death October 19, 1983.  She married Lee “Pete” Burtam Murray on February 4, 1984.  He preceded her in death on January 15, 2012.

Vernie worked for 25 years at McGraw Edison in Jefferson City, until her retirement in 1988.  She also worked at Tweedy’s Shoe Company for 6 years.  After her retirement she started babysitting local children in her home along with her husband Lee, and continued to do that for over 20 years, continuing to babysit alone after her husband’s death.

She also enjoyed going to garage sales, bluegrass music festivals, and eating at restaurants.  As a young woman she dearly enjoyed dancing.  She loved spending time with her family and her close circle of friends.  Most of all she loved children and took great joy in caring for them and watching them grow up.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters; Fay Darlene Beeler and Ella May Connell, who died as an infant, 3 husbands, and 3 children.

She is survived by 3 grandchildren; David Garrison and his wife Sonya of Jefferson City, Rodney Garrison and his wife, Maggie of Russellville, and Steve Garrison and his wife Dorothy Jo of Brazito, 9 great-grandchildren, and one nephew Chris Beeler of California, MO. She is also survived by one niece Andrea Yurko and 2 great-nephews Evan Yurko of Holyoke, MA and Zane Linehan of Northampton, MA.

Visitation will be held Saturday, July 23 from 11:00 – 12:00 at Phillips Funeral Home, 211 South Oak Street, California, MO followed by a funeral service at 12:00 with Reverend Dr. Peter Kurowski officiating.  Private inurnment will be at the convenience of the family in California City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, or the American Kidney Foundation in her memory.

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