BERNIE -- Vernia Lee Walker, 72, of Bernie died Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at the Veterans Administration Center at Memphis, Tenn.

He was born July 9, 1926, at Bernie, the son of Virgil William Walker and Ruby Alma Becker Walker. He married Mary Josephine Harmon at Bloomfield Nov. 23, 1943. She preceded him in death on May 20, 1985.

He was a butcher at the Air Force base in Malden and at Walkers Big Star in Bernie. He also did farm work.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bernie and American Legion Post 293 in Malden.

He is survived by seven sons, Tony and Dell and Tom Walker of Bernie, Carlon Joe Walker of Winder, Ga., Gene Walker of Arnold, Don Walker of Dexter, and Roger Walker of Jonesboro, Ark.; a daughter, Diane Walker of Piggott, Ark.; two brothers, Virgil Carroll Walker of Bernie and Billy Gale Walker of Cahokia, Ill.; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons and two daughters.

Visitation will be from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rainey Funeral Home in Bernie.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Rainey Chapel.

Burial will be at the Bernie Cemetery.