Rev. Vernon Macy, 91, passed away August 3, 2017, in Hastings, Mich. He was a former UB missionary in Honduras and a pastor in Michigan.

Visitation time: 5-8 pm Thursday, August 10, 2017.
Funeral: 12:30 pm Friday, August 11, 2017. Visitation one hour beforehand.
Visitation and funeral location: Hastings Baptist Church, 309 E. Woodlawn Ave., Hastings, MI 49058.

Vernon Macy became a Christian at a youth camp. He met his first wife, Veryl, while attending Taylor University in Upland, Ind. They were married in 1948 and adopted two children. While in college he sensed God calling him to mission work, specifically to Spanish-speaking people, so he took two years of college Spanish and waited for God to open a door.

He went on to earn a degree in elementary education from Michigan State University, while also pastoring local UB churches, including Lake Odessa and Woodbury. Then God opened a door to Honduras. They arrived in La Ceiba, Honduras, in August 1955, and served there until 1959, mostly in the city of Tela–pastoring the church there, and doing evangelism in surrounding villages. They then returned to Michigan and continued pastoring churches.

Veryl Macy died of cancer in 1985. In 1986, Vernon married Evaline Koutz, the widow of a minister, and they were married for 19 years; she passed away in 2015.

In 1988, Stan and Vicki Snider were UB missionaries living in Mattru, Sierra Leone. On July 6, they rejoiced as Vicki gave birth to a baby girl, Cathryn. But during the week of August 1, Vicki fell ill with fever. The hospital staff kept a very close watch on her. Then, on August 6, Vicki suddenly slipped into a coma.

The next day, a Sunday, Vicki was transported to Freetown, and on Monday a chartered Lear Jet air ambulance flew her to the Netherlands, where she was admitted to the respected Harbour Hospital and Institute for Tropical Medicine in Rotterdam. Just eleven weeks before, UB missionary Patti Stone had died there. Now, the same medical staff who treated Patti now cared for Vicki.

The initial diagnosis was Fulminant Hepatitis A, the same illness that killed Patti. Vicki’s liver was not functioning properly, and doctors feared she wouldn’t survive.

Meanwhile, Christians across the US and Canada prayed for Vicki. Within a few days, reports came of slight improvement. By Tuesday, August 16, Vicki had been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit to her own private room. It was mostly uphill from there. Stan, Vicki, and newborn Cathryn spent five weeks in Rotterdam. On September 11, 1988, they flew back to their home in Toronto.

Stan returned to Sierra Leone in November 1988 to assist with some mechanical problems and stayed for six weeks. The entire family returned to Sierra Leone on March 21, 1989.

Bishop Jerry Datema reported that during the 1989-1993 quadrennium, UB people gave $150,00 to help pay the medical and emergency evacuation costs for Patti Stone and Vicki Snider.

Clarence and Erma Carlson and children.

Clarence and Erma Carlson and children.

On August 4, 1942, Clarence Carlson boarded an Egyptian cargo ship in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to begin the journey back to the United States. War was on, and German submarines roamed the Atlantic Ocean. Two years before, when he sailed for Africa, the US was not in the war; it was still dangerous, but Americans were not targets. Now they were.

Carlson had already spent nearly 12 years in Sierra Leone. He and his wife, Erma, and two children left in 1938; Erma and both children were sick, but especially Erma–it would take her several months to recover. Back in the States, they were well aware of the need for leadership in Sierra Leone. They prayed about it for severa months, and finally decided there was only one thing to do. Clarence would return to Sierra Leone by himself.

Carlson wrote in the Missionary Monthly publication, “It is not easy to look forward to the separation of our family, but on the other hand, we could not be happy with this burden on our hearts. We shall both be happy in the knowledge that we are obeying what we believe to be the will of God for us.”

Dr. Leslie and Carolyn Huntley, who were stationed at Gbangbaia, later said of Carlson, “He was so gentle and genuine in his love and concern for all….He loved people, especially his wife and family, but he was a true Christian leader for our African workers.”

After two years, it was time to leave. The only other passenger on that Egyptian cargo ship was a correspondent with the International News Service. They slept in their clothes, with the cabin doors open and life preservers handy. They had an escort for the first two days, but then the ship was on its own. Upon reaching Trinidad in the West Indies, they joined a convoy for the rest of the journey to New York City, arriving on September 12.

Two of Floy Mulkey's missionary photos.

Two of Floy Mulkey’s missionary photos.

On August 3, 1970, Floy Mulkey finished her fifth and final term as a missionary in Sierra Leone. A Huntington College graduate, Floy spent 19 years, 1951-1970, teaching in our high schools and serving in the Sierra Leone national office.

Floy entered missionary service the same year as Bethel Mote, who served in Sierra Leone 1951-1973 (one more term than Floy). They traveled together a number of times, prompting Missions Director George Fleming to describe them as “twins.”

Floy Mulkey passed away January 21, 1996, in her hometown of Philomath, Oregon.

Phyllis Meadows, the widow of former bishop Clyde W. Meadows, passed away early in the morning of July 31, 2017. She was 96 years old.

A memorial service will be held on September 9 (the same day Dr. Meadows died in 1999 at age 98) in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Details will be posted when they become available.

Clyde and Phyllis were married in 1980. Dr. Meadows’ first wife, Mabel, passed away in 1979.