Vernell Gulley

Vernell was born on August 15, 1945 in Nevada County, Arkansas. He was the last child of Tom and Irene Gulley. Irene passed away when Vernell was 4 ½ months old.  He was affectionately known to everyone as “Spider” or “Sonny”. 

His older sister Elizabeth known as “Pig” and her husband Lonnie, raised him as their own son in Bluff City, Arkansas.

Vernell accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Union Grove Baptist Church in Bluff City, Arkansas. He was a graduate of McRae High School. He later united with New Bethel Independent Church in Gurdon. Vernell loved playing the guitar and the harmonica at his church and surrounding churches.

He retired after 22 years of service in 2010, from Hines Trucking Company. He was a truck driver for the Company since 1998. His CB handle was “Spider.” He drove a chip truck across four different states; Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. He first became a member of the “Million Mile Club” in 1997 and the prestigious “Two Million Mile Club” in 2006. He logged 2,380,628 safe driving miles in his years with Hines Trucking. He was honored numerous times as “Driver of the Month”. His dedicated service rewarded him from Hines Trucking Company a huge ring with 5 large diamonds. He was honored with a retirement reception from Hines Trucking Company.

He married Dorothy J. Harrington on November 9, 1984. After retirement they both enjoyed fishing. Sonny was not a man of many words but always maintained a humble spirit and mild disposition. He was a devoted husband, father, brother and “PawPaw” to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Vernell passed from this life on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Baptist Heath Medical Center in Arkadelphia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Irene; his siblings, Artie Taylor, Richard Gulley, Grady Gulley, Eddie Gulley, Elizabeth Haynie, Hestley Gulley, Narves Purifoy, I.C. Gulley, Icy Nell Brown, Ora Lee Purifoy, Gloria Dean Marlow, Tommy Gulley, I.W. Haynie, Georgia Haynie Johnson and Herman Lee “Choke” Gulley; his son, Terrance Gulley (August 14, 2018) and a bonus son, Bobby Harper.

His presence, his memory and love will be forever cherished by his wife, Dorothy Gulley of Gurdon, AR; daughters, Lolita (Raymond) House of Corona, CA and Cassandra Young of Gurdon, AR; a bonus son, Timothy (Ella) Harper of North Little Rock, AR; fourteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; and his last sibling, Burna Dean Gulley Purifoy of Bluff City, AR. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and several other friends.

Submitted by the Gulley Family

Public visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the funeral home.

A celebration of his life will be shared at noon on Saturday December 18, 2021 at Kingdom Authority Christian Ministries where Rev. Quintin Radford is the pastor. Pastor Jewel Danner the pastor of New Bethel Independent Church will officiate and Rev. Otis Box, eulogist. Interment will be at Union Grove Cemetery in Bluff City, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Jeff Purify, Randy Purify, Thomas Gulley, Jason Gulley, and Raymond House.