Verniece Dean went to be with the Lord on Dec. 9, 2022, just 3 days after her 100^th birthday. She was born on Dec. 6, 1922, in Opal, AR to Lille Mae (Cotton) and Lloyd Jackson Foster, and grew up in the western part of that state near Mena.

Verniece, and her brother, A.B., grew up during the Great Depression, and tells stories of picking cotton as a young girl. She learned to cook, can, sew, and garden from her mother, and learned to repurpose instead of throwing most things out. She graduated from Board Camp High School, even playing on the basketball team.

After completing High School, she married her sweetheart, Norman Dean, Dec. 27, 1941, before he was deployed to the war in Europe. During his absence, she worked at an aircraft plant in Dallas, TX, supervising a crew chrome plating control knobs for fighter planes.

When the war ended, she and Norman and their infant son, Darrell, joined other relatives and moved to the Tri-City area, where jobs were plentiful, and enjoyed 54 years of marriage and family life with their four children: Darrell, Donnie, Norma, and Janice. She was content being a stay-at-home Mom and prided herself in raising her children and providing a stable Christian home life for her family. After her husband retired from Hanford, they were able to enjoy many years of camping and fishing trips and even a trip to Alaska.

Verniece was a devout Christian and a charter member of Richland Heights Baptist Church, and attended there regularly until March 2020. For many years she taught Sunday School and Bible School and held various positions in the church organization. She loved her flower gardens, and effortlessly grew the most beautiful roses, but will be best remembered for her compassion and friendship, and always reaching out to those in need to share some act of kindness. She sent an abundance of greeting cards for every occasion imaginable. Blessed with longevity, she touched so many lives with her loving and friendly nature, and as her faith guided her, her love of the Lord was obvious to all who knew her.

She is predeceased by husband, Norman ‘96, brother, A.B. Foster ‘77, and grandson, Jeffery Johansen

‘07. She is survived by her children: sons, Darrell Dean, Donnie Dean (Cathy), daughters, Norma Corrado (Steve Stull), and Janice Isdell (Mike), 10 Grandchildren, 21 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great, Great Grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff of Legacy Adult Family Home for all the years of outstanding and loving care. She loved you all.

A Private Graveside Service was held at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Plans will be made for A Celebration of Life at a later date.