Vernice Tilley Eakin, 98 years old, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 25, 2024, in Tyler, Texas.  She was born July 17, 1926, to Hal and Fern Tilley, in Evansville, Indiana.  She spent most of her life in the Sinton, Texas area.  During the war era, she worked as a telephone operator at the base in Corpus Christi, Texas.  She also worked at the San Patricio County Library, the Sinton Public Library, as well as the San Patricio County Clerk’s office doing background checks.  On November 17, 1947, she married R.C. “Speck” Eakin, who worked for Superior Oil and was a Volunteer Fireman and Constable.  They were married for 27 years and had three children, Christine, David Preston, and Mary Joyce.  Vernice was a faithful member of the Borden Street Church of Christ until moving in 2019 to Lindale, Texas to live with her daughter Christine.  She then was a member along with her family at the Lindale Church of Christ until her death.  She is preceded in death by her husband, R.C. “Speck” Eakin; her parents, Hal and Fern Tilley; her sisters, Edith, Viola, Verleen, Hettie, Shirley, and Georgia.  She is survived by her children, Christine Miller, David Eakin, Mary Farek, and son-in-law Jerry Farek; her granddaughter, Jennifer Miller; her brothers, Buddy and Cecil Tilley; and her sister, Kay Greene, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. with services starting at  2 p.m. at the Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home chapel with Tim Rogers officiating.  Interment will follow at Sinton Cemetery in Sinton.  Serving as pallbearers are Lance Hunt, Chuck Rittiman, Neill Webb, Warren Miller, Gary Fagan, Tommy Bowers, and Doug Carawan.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice.