Vernon D. Holloway was born in rural McPherson County to parents, Carl S. and Anna F. (Stucky) Holloway in August of 1934; the youngest brother in the family with one younger sister. He grew up on the family farm, five miles south of McPherson; active in 4H and FFA. When he graduated from McPherson High School in 1951, at the age of 16, he continued working the family farm when his parents moved into town. He raised hogs and dairy cows, wheat, corn, milo and alfalfa.
He met Peggy Vigus through church youth group and married her in the McPherson Christian Church in June of 1956. They added three children to their young family: Heidi Ann in 1957, Carla Sharon in 1960 and Roy Derrin in 1964. Vernon continued farming and selling Watkins farm feed and mineral products.
The family moved off the farm in 1972, when Vernon went to work for the city Parks Department. They remained active in the Christian Church as youth leaders, elders and board members; as well as developed a lay ministry in bible studies and Christian counseling. They travelled throughout the Midwest participating in Lay Witness Missions targeted at local church renewal.
In summer of 1978, Vernon and Peggy were led to attend Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, OK and pursue full-time ministry. Following ministry school, they returned to McPherson and started Word of Faith Fellowship church, where they pastored for 25 years. During that tenure, they devoted themselves to teaching, church planting and missions, travelling to China, India, Thailand, Mexico, Alaska and several Native American reservation communities.
Peggy, Vernon’s wife of 56 years, died in 2013. He remarried Yvonne Daugherty of Bella Vista, AR (2013 – 2019), and later married Carol Friend in January 2020. Carol and Vernon made their home in McPherson until his death. He passed peacefully at McPherson Hospital on Monday, March 20, following complications from a stroke suffered Thursday evening.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Anna (Stucky) Holloway; his siblings, Sherman Holloway of McPherson, KS, Herman Holloway of Roxbury, KS, Carl Holloway, Jr. of McPherson, KS, Bobby Lawrence Holloway of Chapman, KS, and Marieta Poston of Hillsboro, TX; his wife, Peggy; his daughter, Carla (Rowse) of Wichita KS; and grandsons, Michael Rowse at infancy and Adam Jantz of McPherson, KS.
He is survived by his wife Carol of the home; his daughter, Heidi Holloway Jantz (Steve) of McPherson, KS; his son, Derrin Holloway (Kayla) of Overland Park, KS; son-in-law, Kevin Rowse of Wichita, KS; grandchildren, Levi Jantz of McPherson, KS, Josh Jantz of Sterling Heights, MI, Melissa Rowse Alderman of Orlando, FL, Rachael Holloway of Loch Lloyd, MO, Jared Holloway of Kansas City, MO, Madison Holloway of Lawrence, KS, and Sadie Holloway of Lawrence, KS; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday, March 27, 2023, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, March 28, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at McPherson Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be given to the James Jacob Ministries in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.