Vernon Noble Flenniken
Vernon Noble Flenniken, 90, completed his earthly journey Monday, August 19, 2024 surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Lamesa Church of Christ.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time at the church building. Interment will follow at the Dawson County Cemetery.
He was born July 20, 1934 in Lamesa, Texas to Vernon Noble and Eva May Moore Flenniken. Vernon grew up on the family farm South of Lamesa and attended school at Klondike. He married Eleene Ball March 9, 1951 and they were married 73 years.
Vernon was a jack of all trades. He farmed; was both an automobile and tractor mechanic; served as a police officer; and was a pilot -- both as an ag pilot and a flight instructor. Farming and being a pilot were his favorite occupations.
He enjoyed cooking, mastered bread making, grilling and Dutch oven cooking and never turned down an opportunity to make homemade ice cream. He also enjoyed tending to his pecan trees and shelling his pecan harvest.
Vernon and Eleene bought the C. V. Ball Oliver Implement dealership from Eleene’s father, C. V. Ball when he retired and they ran that business as Flenniken Tractor Co. together for several years. Vernon was a self-taught musician. He could play almost any instrument put before him and even learned to make fiddles from scratch.
After closing the implement dealership, Vernon worked for Dawson County Precinct 3 for a number of years. Vernon and Eleene loved camping and for several years spent time in Mayhill, NM and in South Texas. In each location they made lasting friends and Vernon seemed to always find a band to ”jam” with.
Vernon was a faithful member of the Downtown Church of Christ and later the Lamesa Church of Christ where he served as a teacher, song leader, deacon and as an Elder for over 20 years. When Vernon and Eleene realized they needed to be closer to family and doctors they moved to Shallowater, Texas in November of 2019. After moving to Shallowater, Vernon was a member of the 12th Street Church of Christ and faithfully attended every service possible. During times he couldn’t attend in person, he would live stream the services.
Vernon is survived by his wife, Eleene of Shallowater; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Lee Brown of Laramie, WY, and Glenda and Glen Campbell of Possum Kingdom Lake; two sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Malinda Flenniken of Big Spring, and Gary and Vicki Flenniken of Shallowater; and a daughter-in-law, Vicki Flenniken of Lamesa. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Callie Drietz, Yancey Brown, Brandi Morris, Jeremy Campbell, Melanie Ross, Melissa Moore, Kyle Flenniken, Nathan Flenniken, Alexis Peterson, Brenna Lauderdale, Sydney Flenniken, Kylah Flenniken, Rylan Flenniken, Drake Flenniken and Zachary Flenniken; 20 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Larry Flenniken; one brother, Herbert Flenniken; and two sisters, Lucille King and Cleo Seeley.
The family suggests memorials to New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM-236, Portales, NM 88130 or https://nmcch.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of Branon Funeral Home.
– Press-Reporter obituary services