Vernell Cotten Nance died Friday, September 14, 2018 in Canyon, Texas at the age of 92 years and 7 months. She was born February 14, 1926 in Littlefield, Texas to Elmer Rio and Lela Belle (Carroll) Cruse. She married Milton "Mick" Eugene Cotten in Childress, Texas on July 8, 1945. After he passed away, she married J.D. Nance on April 18, 1997.

Vernell was a homemaker and is preceded in death by her first husband, Mick Cotten in 1984; her second husband, J.D. Nance in 2007; her parents; three sisters, Joleta Johnson, Betty Driskill and Nora Mae Cruse; and four brothers, Ray Cruse, Paul Cruse, Alva Lee Cruse and Tommy Cruse.

Vernell is survived by her three daughters, Carroll Fuston and her husband, Derrel of Houston, Texas, Glenna Robbins and her husband, Randall of Carrizozo, New Mexico and Juana Shelburne and her husband, Curtis of Muleshoe, Texas; ten grandchildren, Anna Lynette Fuston, Kristi Witt, Heather Kendrick, Amy Calhoun, Joyce Turnbow, Coye Burnett, Christopher Shelburne, Joshua Shelburne, Jeffrey Shelburne and Stephan Shelburne; 17 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the Christian Relief Fund, PO Box 19670, Amarillo, Texas, 79114; Turkey Church of Christ, 501 Bell Street, Turkey, Texas, 79261; or Dreamland Cemetery, PO Box 127, Turkey, Texas, 79261.