On March 14, 2026, Vernell Price went home to her heavenly home into the arms of Jesus and reunited wither husband Paul Price and family.
Willie Vernell Price was born on July 26, 1924 to Jesse and Euna Carter in Pierce, Oklahoma. She had six siblings — Odell, Doyle, ML, Jean, Lavon and Jerry.
When Vernell was four years her family and other relatives moved from Oklahoma to find fortune and a new beginning to land near Old Mexico. When they arrived, the family found out that their newly purchased land was a scam. The family decided then to move on west, first going to Oregon and then to California. The family moved onto the Bay Area to work. While there Vernell’s oldest sister, Odell, died of infantile paralysis. Next the family moved Porterville, Calif. They went back to Oklahoma to find work but soon returned to Porterville and settled down.
Vernell went to a country dance with her friend Margie and her cousin when she was 16. At the dance she met Paul Price. Paul told a friend that he had just met his wife. Within a year on June 28, 1942, Vernell and Paul were married. They went to Las Vegas with Paul’s brother Bill and Vernell’s friend, Margie, they had a double wedding.
Paul and Vernell settled in Porterville. Paul and his brother, Bill purchased a gas station. In 1944 Carolyn was born and a year later Paulette came along. World War II interrupted life and Vernell found herself caring for two toddlers when Paul was drafted in 1945 and sent to the Aleutian Islands. Fortunately, Paul was only in the army a little over a year. Vernell and Paul once again settled into life in Porterville. They rededicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and Joined the Nazarene Church. Marilyn was born in 1949 and rounded out their family with the third girl.
In the spring of 1950 Paul and Vernell took a job opportunity to move to Eureka. with GL Speir’s Logging Company. They found a Nazarene Church community that embraced them into their congregation with open arms. Paul and Vernell settled in Eureka and found their forever home. Paul had many business endeavors. Vernell supported him by caring for the family, sewing the girls’ clothes, keeping the books for his businesses, selling Avon, working at Globe Imports and Walsh’s Fine Dinnerware. Both Vernell and Paul were involved in their church doing whatever needed to be done. She loved being a girls counselor many years at Blue Slide Nazarene Camp.
Vernell and Paul sold their tire store, Paul Price Tires, in the early 1990s, purchased a motor home and set out to see the USA with other friends. During their retirement Vernell joined the Women’s Golf Association and learned to play golf. She played golf well into her 90s. She was forever thrilled when she made a hole in one on the 8th hole at the Muni. Eventually Vernell and Paul sold their motor home and purchased a trailer in Arizona. They had to sell their property in Arizona when it became evident that Paul had Alzheimer’s. Vernell took such great care of Paul along with the family until he passed away in 2004.
Vernell managed to find a new life for herself in various ways: She was involved in her church, golfed weekly, played Mexican Dominoes with a group of friends, worked in her yard, enjoyed and cared for her family. Even in her 90s Vernell stayed as active as possible. After Vernell turned 99, it was evident that she could not live alone. A decision was made to move to Timber Ridge Assistant Living. The last year she had been in their Renaissance Memory area.
Vernell was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Euna Carter, husband, Paul Price, granddaughter, Rebecca Hansen, siblings, Odell Carter, Doyle Carter, ML Carter, Jean Thompson and Jerry Carter, nephews Steven Zbrudzewski, Don Price and niece Pam Carter.
Vernell is survived by her sister, Lavon (Art) Baird, daughters and their spouses, Carolyn and Drew Bass, Paulette and Arlin True and Marilyn Nilsen and Paul Mangum. She is survived by her grandchildren and their spouses, Michael (Maikken) Bass, Mark Bass, Michelle (Eric) Anderson, Randy (Lisa) Hansen, Renee (Michael) Miles, Nathan (Shelley) Nilsen, Jeremy (Amy) Nilsen and Ryan (Amy) Nilsen. Vernell’s great-grandchildren are Austin (Alyssa), Alec and Annika Anderson, Morgan (Dominik )Munch, Max (Shayda) Bass, and Hannah Bass, Aria Miles (Casey Highstrom), Chloe ( Jace) McFetridge, Olivia Miles, Jordan Miles, Trevor and Alexandra Nilsen, Rhett and Cole Nilsen and Cameron Hastriter. Her great-great-grandchildren are Audrey and Archer Anderson, Gabe, Piper and Brady Hansen, Banks Miles-McGrady, Jackson and River Miles-Highstrom. Vernell is also survived by nieces and nephews, Beverly Patterson, James Price, Dave Zbrudzewski, Steve, Mark, Greg and Jeff Carter, Sandy Carter, Larry and Allan Wilson, Debbie Sanders, Paula Weaver and Kathie Bourne.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Oceanside Cemetery in Eureka.
Honorary casket bearers will be Vernell’s six grandsons.
We appreciate and thank Vernell’s caregivers at Timber Ridge Memory Care.
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