Hi grandad, for some reason I’ve been thinking about you more than ever lately. I don’t know why but I feel you with me and I miss you so much. I’m sorry I couldn’t have spent more time with you. I love you so much thank you for being in my life. 

Its July 4th .  I really missed you today.  I wish you could come back...Lesia

“Promise to do what?”

A long time ago I met a girl, the love of my life.  Early on I gave her a promise ring and soon it was time to see her family. Up to that point she had kept me away because all that had come before me were rejected out of hand as not worthy. 
On the appointed day we finally went to her parents for dinner.
At the door to great us was a tall strong man with a demeanor sculpted by a lifetime of hard experiences, his military face.
Almost immediately he saw the ring on his only daughter's hand and took it up and placed it front of my face and stating 
“What Is This?”.
Thoroughly intimidated I stammered, 
“it's , a, a,  a promise ring”. He looked down at the ring and back at me in the same stern face and said
“PROMISE TO DO WHAT?”.

Before I dropped dead of fright his face changed to a broad smile and with a very light and welcoming tone. said “well come on in”.

This man became Vern to me, a true mentor of how to handle the promise of many things including life, marriage and responsibility.  Much of what I am now Is because of him. He never had to tell me exactly what to do but did it by his actions. He was a true leader that desired none of it. Just as happy to lead 1,000 men or walk a solitary beat delivering the mail. He had a gravity of integrity that could always pull you back from shortcuts and on to a righteous path. 
All without saying a word. 
He was truly a righteous man. 
Promise in a man is defined as his potential. What he is capable of accomplishing. There are few Men with the promise that  Lew Vernon Hines had and he accomplished them all. 
The promise he showed us now lives in all of us that had the honor to know him. Because of Vern I now carry that promise with me every day, to be a better man, husband, and father. 
“He that has touched our hearts walks with us always”

Granddad,
It hurts for you to be gone. It was even more hard being there when you passed. However, I have the full confidence you are with God now as well as Eric and Big Nick. I have been dreading writing in this book for a while now. I was not sure what I would say. I always remember you and your pipe. I love that smell. After you had passed I was driving to work, talking to you in my head, and I could swear that I could smell your pipe. I knew you were there with me. I miss you so much. Sometime I forget and then it will hit me again hard. I also think about the last time we talked and how it was so similar to the past talks we have had. I would tell you, "take care of yourself and Mammaw" and you would say " I will do my best". I would whisper in your ear "I love you a lot " and you would always, without a doubt, whisper back, "I love you more". 

I love you a lot Granddad, and I know that you love me more.

Vernon was known for his love of family and devotion to them. He demonstrated  many admirable traits: pride of country, care of others, speaking softly, kindness, and many more. It was my pleasure to know him and observe his many wonderful skills reflected in his son. Vernon, a job well done.

Grandad,  I love you and I will miss you.

I always loved smoking with Vernon.  We talked about deep things and trivial things.  He made me feel loved and welcomed.  I will miss him.

I really miss Granddad a lot. My Granddad was such a good man. I love Granddad and I know that he is in heaven watching us. We shouldn't be sad. Granddad would never want us to be sad, he would want us to be happy. I think that will make him reeeeally happy.

You never really realize the impact one has on your life until they are gone. But what is most amazing to me is how much more of an influence my father in law has had on all of us since his passing. I believe that is what he would have wanted. His legacy inspires me every day, and only makes me yearn to be a better person, a better wife, a better mother, a better friend, a better daughter, and sister. Thank you Dad for helping me grow :) I love you and I will miss you so much.

Noelle Hines

My Grandad is the best Grandad in the entire universe. His smile and kind words will always be remembered. I always looked forward to him leading the prayer at our family gatherings. I am so incredibly proud of his legacy and only hope to continue make him proud with my own. He will always be the perfect example of human being to me. I miss him so much. I truly believe that he was a guardian angel in life and now he's just earned his wings and able to watch over more.

My heart is heavy...I will selfishly miss my Father, my Mentor, my Friend.  A good man, slow to anger (glacial), never a harsh word or deed, alway found the good side of things.  I pray that when my time comes I will be seen as the Father and Man my Dad was.

Today I brought you home,
Somehow I did not feel so alone.

I handed you to Mom,
she held you until dawn.

...and then we knew,
you were really gone.

Ashes

June 3rd would have been Mom & Dad's 59th Anniversary.. Dads birthday is on the 16th and then there is Fathers Day.  June has always been a big month for us.  This year, not so much....  My heart aches.
I love you Daddy... Your Daughter

I want to Thank everyone for being here.  As I get older and experience  the passing of people, I realize the funeral is in Honor of the person who passes..  But, Even more for the people left behind.           
As I look at all of you here, I am so grateful that each and everyone of you are here. It really means a lot to me and my family.
Everyone who knows my Daddy, knows what an amazing, kind, sweet, honorable (and much much more) man that he was.
I really do not know how I am going to go on without my Daddy.   So.. I cannot even Imagine how my mom (as you all know, the love of his life) will go on.

Our hearts are broke and I feel sick Every time I think of it.

What I do know (without a doubt)is the he is up there with my brothers (Eric and Nick) and all his family that has passe before him.

I love you Daddy, always and I (know) you will rest in peace.
Your loving daughter

I believe everyone in our family looked up to Uncle Vernon.  I thought he was the coolest and kindest person I knew.  He will be sadly missed by me and the rest of his family in Tennessee.  To Aunt Sandra, Lisa, Scott and Nicky J., you will all be in my thoughts and prayers.  I wish we could see each other more often.  I cherish all the times we've spent together.  I've cried for your family, prayed for them and know how hard it is to lose a parent.  Know that I love you all and miss you all.  If any of you ever get back up to Oneida, please let me know through Aunt Jo.  I'd love to see y'all at least one more time, if not many times.  RIP Uncle Vernon.  There will be no more pain on this earth.  Much love, Kathy Jo Jeffers Griffith.

I always looked forward to a visit from uncle Vernon. He would always have a big smile, and a big hug for me when he visited. I got to visit him this past October, and it will always be with me because again I got a big smile and lots of hugs. I will miss you my sweet uncle Vernon.             Jane (Jeffers) Stephens

"Uncle Vernon" has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember.  My mom's baby brother is a little less than seven years older than me and grew up just a block from where I did.  During my childhood I thought he was the coolest uncle because of his personality and his interests.  He had and did things that others in our small-town neighborhood didn't.  He always had an interest in mechanical things (I think that comes with the Hines legacy).  I remember he bought a used motor scooter that he used for fun and on his paper route(s)...he would ride my siblings & me around the block.  He had a 16mm movie camera and was always experimenting with special effects decades before the Photoshop era.  He always had side jobs (mowing lawns, paper routes, etc.) to pay for his "toys".  He also was musically inclined.  I remember he had a ukulele & always looked forward to him playing it & singing.  In his mid teens he and his friends had a really cool hideout.  It was originally part of a chicken coop built behind granddad's work shed.  They had beds & lots of neat stuff there & would camp out there overnight.  The younger kids weren't allowed inside, but of course we sneaked in anyway.  When I was the age where I had my own paper route, I remember seeing Uncle Vernon and a pretty blonde courting on the porch steps of her home on Wademon Row.  The courtship soon led to marriage and babies.  The young family shortly left Oneida for good when he felt the urge to serve his country and enlisted in the military.  One of my favorite memories of Vernon and Sandra was shortly after my high school graduation.  He had been stationed in Columbus, GA and was being transferred to Fort Hood in Killeen, TX.  He talked my Mom into letting me go with them to help in the move.  It was the first time I had gone anywhere out of Scott County on my own and the trip out to Texas was a real eye-opener for me!  The original plan was for me to stay a couple of weeks, but I got so homesick they put me on a Greyhound for home after about a week.

After viewing all the pictures on this site, I realized how little I knew of Uncle Vernon's life after he left Oneida.  We saw each other maybe three or four times every ten years or so for the greater part of his adult life - sometimes in Texas and sometimes in Tennessee.  I do know that he was one of the most gentle and giving men I have ever known.  He carried all his father's good traits and reminded me of him in so many ways.  I know he was proud of his military service and I am forever grateful for the spirit in which he served.  He bore burdens that few have to face with grace, dignity and humility. 

I love Uncle Vernon and his family.  I'm so sorry I was unable to come for the memorial service.  You will all be in my thoughts and prayers in the coming days, weeks and months.

Ronnie Jeffers

Lesia, we are so sorry about the loss of your father.  Although I only met him a couple of times, I felt as if I had known him forever because he reminded me so much of my own dad.  I know he was a kind and caring man, strong but gentle, and the rock of your family.  Please know that you, Don, Kylie, Ariel and the rest of your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  We looked at the beautiful family pictures, and we know you will have many wonderful memories of the special moments and love that you shared with your dad.  We love you all!

My Granddad was the best I could ever ask for. Even though I live in Nc and he lived in TX he gave me more love then some people who live in my same state. I remember after dinner he would go outside and smoke on his pipe, I love the smell of that pipe. I can't even explain or express how much I love and respect this man. I love you Granddad ... until we meet again.

I am the neighbor across the street. My name is Connie Harris. I would see Mr. Hines in and out occasionally. My dad who passed away in August, would see him and talk to him. My dad was the personal representative in my family. I am sad at your lost but at least he is in a better place. Now my dad Mike and Mr. Hines can have longer conversation. My prayers to all the family members.

OBITUARY

CSM Lew Vernon Hines (United States Army, Retired)

June 16, 1935 – May 18, 2014

Colonial Funeral Home

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