Vernell Mary Foyt was most passionate about volunteering at SPJST Lodge 88, Houston. Vernell and her husband, Rudy, shared many “two steps” at the lodge before his passing. Vernell was on the rules and regulations committee, treasurer of the Birthday Club Sisters, bingo volunteer, head of the entertainment committee, and a member of the swimming pool committee. She stepped in whenever help was needed. She made many friends at SPJST Lodge 88 over the years. She had a special relationship with every band that performed at the lodge as well as members of the lodge.
Vernell was born January 9, 1932, to Adolph and Elsie Mackenroth in Washington County, Texas. She attended elementary school in La Grange and graduated to the high school department on May 24, 1946. Vernell was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith on July 31, 1954, at Christ the King Church in Houston.
Vernell met Rudy Foyt in Park on December 28, 1946. They danced to the music of “The Blue Skirt Waltz.” They courted for seven years before they were engaged on July 2, 1953. They married on August 9, 1953, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Grange. They went on to have a wonderful family with daughter Jackie Mortimer and husband Rick, daughter Michelle Koonce and husband Allen, daughter Gay Kansteiner and husband Gary, and son Jason Foyt and Kateri; grandchildren Jack Johnson and wife Brittany, Amy Dent and husband Patrick, Christopher Kansteiner and wife Brenna, Mark Kansteiner, Eric Koonce and wife Katie, Nicole Koonce, Gabrielle Foyt, and Gavin Foyt; and great-grandchildren Trevor Johnson, Owen Johnson, Korlyn Dent, and Riley Dent. Vernell was married to Rudy for 46 years when he passed away. She retired from the banking industry and went on to work for Service Corporation International for a number of years.
Her passion after her “working years” was volunteering for Memorial Herman Hospital where she was honored with hundreds of hours for volunteering in their gift shop. Vernell served on the Pastoral Council for St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, as well as being a Eucharistic minister for the church. Vernell was a member of many organizations – Red Hat Club, SPJST Lodge 88, St. Rose of Lima Church, Thursday Club, Birthday Club Sisters, and Sons of Hermann.
Vernell passed away on Friday, August 9, 2019.
The Vernell Foyt Endowed Scholarship Fund has been initiated by SPJST Lodge 88, Houston to honor Vernell Foyt’s memory. By definition, an endowed scholarship is one in which the principle remains intact and only the interest is awarded each year. The minimum gift needed to establish a named, endowed SPJST scholarship is $10,000. Once the fund reaches $20,000, the scholarship will be awarded annually in the honoree’s name.
The Vernell Foyt Endowed Scholarship Fund establishes a permanent funding source that will support deserving students today and in the future. An SPJST Endowed Scholarship is a perpetual gift because only the interest is applied towards the scholarship while the principle continuously grows.
SPJST members and friends seeking to contribute to the Vernell Foyt Endowed Scholarship Fund may donate through the link below. Donations with checks payable to: “The Vernell Foyt Memorial Scholarship Fund” may be mailed to the SPJST Home Office, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503.