Retha Sue Vermillion Comer's Obituary
Retha Sue Vermillion Comer, born in Texarkana, Texas on February 1, 1954, Retha was the daughter of Charles and Jo Anne Vermillion. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1972 earning several academic honors, and became one of only 600 National Merit Scholars. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Baylor University in 1976, and completed Medical Technologist training in Dallas, Texas in 1979. She worked in the Longview area with her longest tenure at Longview Regional Hospital.
Married in 1976, Retha and her husband enjoyed lots of adventurous travel. They hiked in the mountains often, took long distance motorcycle trips - one from Longview to Banff, Canada. They also enjoyed driving their VW convertible around town with the top down to greet friends and family. Their time together was a very happy time for Retha.
Apart from her work as a medical technologist and taking adventurous trips, Retha was an avid reader, enjoyed racquetball, riding her horse, and many crafts. She created some very fine needlepoint work that we still enjoy seeing framed. Several crafted Christmas gifts were created for her young nieces including a sewn playhouse that slipped over a card table. She was also an excellent cook, enjoying entertaining family and friends.
In 1986 Retha was in a very unfortunate car accident from which she suffered severe injuries. She was then under the care of her family until her passing. While rarely able to communicate with direct conversation, she was still remarkable in things she could communicate. Jo Anne would often play the Psalms from an audio Bible in her room. Many times someone could start a Psalm, and Retha could continue it. She never lost here ability to laugh. When she became frustrated, she would often say the words, "Go home!" Those words are now no longer words of frustration, for Retha has gone home, freed from her injuries. She can now laugh and sing forevermore.
We do not know how many lives were touched by Retha's life, but we are certain that God has used her life for good in ways we will never understand until we see her with Jesus..
The family is profoundly grateful to all those who offered support through these many years to us, especially to our parents. Charles and Jo Anne took such loving care of Retha as long as they were able, even after they were gone giving provision for her continued care.
We are forever grateful to all who served Retha's needs while she was in Summer Meadows. Your loving care helped to make her daily life as good as it could be. You are heroes in our minds.
We are also grateful to the people of Heartsway who gave an extra measure of care over the last several years of Retha being on and off hospice.
Retha is survived by her brother Steve Vermillion, brother John Vermillion and wife Michele, sister Joan Ward and husband Carey, brother James Vermillion and wife Laura, and 11 nieces and nephews.
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Share a story where Retha's kindness touched your heart.
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