Mary Martha Vernon, age 88, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at Heisinger Bluffs in Jefferson City, Missouri. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 21, 1931, the daughter of Charles J and Elizabeth (Hickman) Johnson. They moved to Jefferson City when she was young, where she attended grade school and high school as well as Junior college, graduating in 1951. She was married to Harry Ross Vernon in Eldon on April 7, 1957 at the First Christian Church. Together they owned and operated Vernon Music and Electronics in Eldon and Osage Beach until his death in 1989. Her earlier career included positions with state government and the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis as well as Sears catalog store, Walmart and American Greetings before her retirement in 2004. Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Grace Miller and son-in-law Kim Miller; granddaughter, Stephanie Elizabeth Kay and husband Travis; grandson, William Ross Miller; and two great-grandchildren, Blake Dwight Kay and Aubrey Grace Kay. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles J and "Betty" Johnson in 1973 and her husband, Harry, in 1989. Services will be at Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon on Tuesday, June 23 with visitation from 12-2 p.m., service at 2 p.m. and burial in the Eldon City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Eldon First Christian Church or the Hospice Compassus Foundation, 2135 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield, MO 65809.