JAMES VERNON REGEL, 76, was welcomed into his heavenly home Friday morning, July 4, 2014, after a 5-week bout with aggressive cancer. He was one of nine children born to the late Rubert Vernon Regel and Thelma Charlson Regel, of Marks, MS. After attending the University of Memphis, his career spanned years with the Warner-Lambert-Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company, from which he retired. A longtime member of Bellevue Baptist Church, he served as a deacon, an International Mission team participant, and worked on many Operation Relief work crews. He also loved working in the truck stop ministry and car care ministry to widows. He has been married to his beloved wife, Gwen Hannon Regel, for 53 years. During these latter years of her suffering from Alzheimer''s disease, he has been a "man on a mission" caring for her faithfully and lovingly. He was a devoted and loving father to their daughter, Joy Regel Reckord (Stuart), and a happy "Pop" to his two precious grandchildren, Maddox and Molly. He will be greatly missed by his family, but also by many others whose lives he touched with kindness and compassion. In addition to his sister, Virginia (now deceased), he leaves seven other siblings, Clyde Regel (Alice), Billy Joe Regel (Donna), Elizabeth Black, and Mary Powers (David) of Memphis; Leon Regel (Dot) of Gulfport, MS, Patricia Iten (Lou) of Davies, FL, and Iris Wreyford (Harrell) of Flower Branch, GA, and fifteen nieces and nephews. The visitation will be Tuesday, July 8 at Bellevue Baptist Church from 12-2 p.m., with service immediately following at 2 p.m.

Forest Hill East Funeral Home (901)382-1000