Eleanore Christine Verner, 79, was guided home to her heavenly Father surrounded by loved ones at her McAlester home on January 10th, 2020 after battling cancer the past 21 months. Arrangements by Brumley-Mills Funeral Home will include a visitation Wednesday, January 15th from 5:00PM-7:00PM at Brumley-Mills chapel. The memorial service will be held Thursday, January 16th, 2020 at 2:00PM at the McAlester Expo Center, 4500 West US-270, McAlester, OK. Brother Jerry Dickinson will officiate. A private family burial will follow at Blue Community Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Caleb Verner, Mason Davis, Clayton Thompson, Michael Verner, Nicholas Verner, Landry Davis, Lane Verner, Will Tobey, Jaxon Tobey and Woodrow "Woody" Verner.

Honorary Pallbearers: John Allford, Ralph Thompson, Jeff Yount, David Weiss, Matt McGowan, Brent Cotton and the members of the C & Tyler Church of Christ and Alderson Church of Christ.

Chris was born April 12, 1940 in Norman, OK to Edward O. and Naomi (Helterbrand)  Brown. Growing up in McAlester on West Madison street, Chris and her siblings Elaine, Bob, Mary, Jo and Reba were incredibly close and continued their love and care for each other throughout each of their lives. Graduating from McAlester High School in 1958 she was flattered to have been chosen as Armed Forces Day Queen and voted "best looking" her senior year. As a teen, she was already developing her love of art and found a job working at Hunt's Department Store designing their display windows. She also attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University as an Art major.

During this time, she met a young fella named Billy Verner.  What followed was a love affair that lasted over 60 years. Marrying January 31, 1959, she and Bill moved to Perryton, Texas for his work as a wireline operator for Otis Engineering. Housing many relatives and friends who moved there for work, Chris and Bill made their tiny home welcoming to all.  Eventually moving back to McAlester, where they raised their seven children. One of Chris's greatest accomplishments, according to her kids, Steve, Dave, Vikki, Chrystie, Mike, Missy and Libby, was not losing her cool on their many family vacations. The Grand Canyon, Royal Gorge in Colorado, Six Flags, Silver Dollar City, Galveston Beach and more saw their side-paneled station wagon or van pull up with a mom and dad who were ready for a much needed break.

Through the years, they endured many tragedies and hardships, always relying on their faith. Christine grew up attending the Church of Christ. She and Bill raised their family with a strong Christian faith and took their children to gospel meetings all over the state. They also opened their home to many preachers and their families that were traveling through or holding gospel meetings. Chris and her family attended the C & Tyler Church of Christ.

Chris and Bill were blessed to have grown their family owned business, Big V Feeds, into a successful corporation. They built their dream home on a ranch west of McAlester and raised cattle, and at times buffalo, goats, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep, cougars, German shepherds, one donkey and numerous shameless cats. She loved all creatures and was especially fond of her exotic frogs and their saltwater aquarium. Her children and even grandchildren were often bringing her small animals to "fix." Her selfless mother's heart could never turn her back on someone or some "thing" in need. She once found an abandoned newborn baby squirrel in her garden and nursed it back from certain death. She named it Lilly and released it back into her garden, excitedly pointing her out when she saw her.

Motherhood was a joy to Chris. She loved talking about her children and was very involved in their activities. She made hot meals, a beautiful home and a breathtaking garden seem effortless. If you walked into her home you were treated like family.And although she loved being a mom, she missed her first love, painting. As her children got older, she was encouraged by her sweetheart to return to painting.

She and Bill had a special studio and gallery built on their property and Chris got busy painting and eventually teaching at The Verner Gallery and Fine Art School. She was well respected as an artist and teacher in the fine art community. Throughout her career she was able to enjoy her love of travel, incorporating her love of photography to capture images she would later bring to life on canvas. Her travels included Zimbabwe, Namibia, England, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Mexico and Canada, as well as Hawaii, Yellowstone National Park, Teton National Park, Denali National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. She took workshops or private instruction from several well respected artists including Richard Schmid, Kenneth Freeman, Howard Terpning, Guy Coheleach, Rudy Caleo, Herb Mignery and more.

She also continued her art education at such varied places as Escuela De Bellas Artes, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; University of Paris, Paris, France; American Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois; Art Students League, New York; Coppini Art Academy, San Antonio, Texas; Cowboy Artists of America Museum, Kerrville, Texas; and Jon Zahourek Anatomy in Clay Center, Denver, Colorado.

Chris's art has been shown in 18 one woman shows; The Wildlife Art Museum, Red Wing, Minnesota; galleries in Alaska; Yellowstone National Park; Bozeman, Montana; Seattle, Washington; Canada and several private and corporate collections. She was the author of the book, "As A Matter of Fact - The Truth About Color" and belonged to many art organizations including Palette and Chisel Club, Ultima Wildlife Artists of America, Oklahoma Lady Artists, as well as many local art organizations.

She was honored to be commissioned to paint the portrait of Will Rogers that hangs in the Masonic Temple in McAlester, as well as the baptistry mural for several churches, including the C & Tyler Church of Christ.

Chris was delighted to give of her time and experience to children and young artists, holding many summer workshops for children that her own grandchildren grew to love and look forward to. She also taught students at Jones Academy and would often travel to teach men incarcerated at various prisons.

Survivors include her husband, Bill Verner; three sons, Stephen Verner, David Verner, and wife Kari, and Mike Verner, all of McAlester, OK; four daughters, Vikki Hall, and husband Gary, of Harper Valley, OK, Chrystie Findahl, and husband Rhodes, Melissa Verner, and Elizabeth Tobey, and husband Todd, all of McAlester, OK.

Sisters Mary Davis and husband Raymond of McAlester, Reba Hollis of McAlester,  and Jo Etta Stachmus of McAlester. Brother-in-law Bob Verner and wife Cheryl of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother-in-law, Vernon Elmore; sister-in-law Betty Yuracko of Nacogdoches, Texas.

Grandchildren: Erica Verner, Lindsay McEwen, Hillary and Tyler Heinrichs, Jessica and Greg Lee, Jordan Verner and fiance Donnie Worthington, Lauren Grand and Mikey Treannie, Lauren Findahl, Rani and Lee Morris, Ryan and Benjamin Burns, Shelby and Matt Monks, Rylee Verner and fiance Adam Iago, Caleb Verner, Cole Davis, Colby Davis, Mason Davis, Clayton Thompson, Michael and Hailey Verner, Kendall Nickerson, Nicholas Verner, Landry Davis, Lane Verner, Will Tobey, Jaxon Tobey, MacKenzie Verner-Adams, Hannah Verner Adams, Shane Verner, Woodrow "Woody" Verner.

Precious great-grandchildren: Corbin, Keelee, Payton, Kadance, Emery, Tanzy, Ella, Chase, Addyson, Grace, Carlee, Adrian, Hunter, Boone, Leyton, Liam, Remington, Baron and Skyler.

Chris was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Naomi Brown; father and mother-in-law Woodrow and Gladys Verner; brother Robert "Bob" Brown; sister Elaine Elmore; brothers-in-law John Yuracko, David Stachmus and Glen Hollis; daughter-in-law Leslie Verner; grandson Jacob Davis; great-grandsons Brayden Dowless and Lewis McEwen. This past year she also grieved the loss of special granddaughter Maddie Thompson.

Chris was passionate about exposing children to art and helping to develop their talents. A foundation has been established to provide fine art scholarships in her memory each year.  In lieu of flowers donations to the Christine Verner Memorial Fine Art Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 925, McAlester, OK 74502 or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.