Billy “Bill” Ray Vernon, age 84, died on Monday, December 23, 2019. He was born in Ovalo, Texas to William Guy and Lois Inez (Whiteaker) Vernon on Thursday, June 6, 1935. Bill was a 56-year resident of Irving. For 44 years, he worked as a superintendent at Pavement Specialist in Roanoke, Texas until his retirement in 2002. Bill joined the United States Army in 1955, and proudly served his country, receiving an honorable discharge in 1958. During his service term, he was stationed in Germany, where he worked as a medic. Bill found love at first site and married the love of his life Nancy in 1959. Their love was undeniable from the moment they first met, they both knew from the very first date, they would be together forever. The family fondly remembers Bill’s love of old westerns and reminisce about John Wayne being his favorite actors of this genre and his most absolute favorite tv show was Gunsmoke. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister in law Bonnie and her husband Sonny McMillian, brother in laws Leon Cobb and Alvin Pope and nephew Tyler Robison. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Nancy Vernon; daughter Cathy Vernon; grandson Joshua Ray Vernon; grand dogs Maddie, Gabbie and Gracie; Brother Jerry Vernon and wife Peggy; Sister in laws Jo Ann Cobb and Wanda Pope; sister in law Judy Myers and husband TC; brother in law Jerry Jeffries and wife Gail; brother in law Johnny Jeffries and wife Dorothy; lifelong friend Toppy Cumby as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and loving friends. The family will receive friend between 6:00 and 8:00pm, on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at Brown’s Memorial Funeral Home, 707 N. MacArthur Blvd in Irving. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, December 27, 2019 at 2:00pm. A committal service with Military Honors will be held at 9:30am on Monday, December 30, 2019 at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mtn Creek Parkway in Dallas. The family request in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/support in Bill’s honor.