Vernice "Coon" Oma Dolan

Vernice Oma Dolan, affectionately known to all as “Coon”, entered our Father’s Heavenly gates on Wednesday October 20, 2021.  Coon was born on May 17, 1941 in Jasper County Mississippi.  He was the third of seven sons born to Otho Leo Dolan and Macy Alberta Shomemaker.  They resided on a rural farm in Louin, MS.

Coon left Mississippi during his senior year in high school to find work in the oil field industry in Texas.  He eventually landed in Borger, Texas where he met his wife of 58 years, Barbara Gail Eldredge.  They were married on February 22, 1963.  Coon and Barbara had two children while in Borger, Verna Gail Dolan and Tracy Wayne Dolan.  Coon then went to work for Chicago Bridge & Iron building storage tanks in refineries which required traveling to various states eventually landing in Southaven, Mississippi in 1969 where they had their third child, Stacy Vernice Dolan, born in Memphis, Tennessee. They lived in Southaven for ten years before moving to Heber Springs, Arkansas in 1979 where they have remained.  In 1983 they built and opened up a restaurant, Dolan’s Steak House which they operated for several years.  Coon returned to working as a welder building storage tanks in the oil refineries and he and Barbara traveled together as he worked until their retirement in 2003.

Coon’s first love was his family.  His devotion to ensure that his wife, kids and grandchildren were always cared for, protected and supported was unmatched.  His second love was simply hunting and fishing.  He became known by his hunting buddies as the “turkey whisperer”.  Throughout his life more than 60 gobblers found themselves responding to the calls of a sweet sounding hen only to meet their fate with the Turkey Whisperer!  And fish populations were always at risk when he would wet a hook!

Vernice Oma Dolan was preceded in death by his parents Otho and Alberta, brothers, Jessie Ottis Dolan, Otho Edgar Dolan, Dennis Ray Dolan, James Darrell Dolan and Kenneth Darvin Dolan.                                    

He is survived by his wife Barbara Dolan, daughter and son-in-law Verna & Rudy Fletcher, Son and daughter-in-law Tracy & Pamela Dolan and son Stacy Dolan. Four grandchildren, Brady Fletcher, Allison Fletcher, Andrew Dolan and Hannah Dolan.  One brother and sister-in-law Clura Franklin “Joe” Dolan and wife Betty. Three sister-in-law’s Joleen Dolan, Nancy Dolan and Betty Dolan plus host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Brady Fletcher, Andrew Dolan, Rudy Fletcher, Brent Dolan, Richard Eldredge and Larry Eldredge.

Visitation is 12-2pm, Saturday, October 23, 2021 with the funeral service following at 2pm. The interment is at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens.

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