Vernelle Victoria Holmquist

Our beloved Vernelle Victoria Holmquist (Merritt), 66, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026 in El Paso, Texas.

Born in Hawarden, Iowa on Feb 9th 1960, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Marion Merritt. She graduated from Iowa School for the Deaf in 1978.

Vernelle was known for her love of crafts, especially sewing, and her love of family. She dedicated her life to her family and her ministry in the Deaf communities of Rochester, NY, Ringgold, GA, and El Paso, TX. She has left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Clifford Merritt.

She is survived by her husband, Duane Holmquist; children, Andrew (Pepsi) Holmquist, Hannah Holmquist, Simon (Maite) Holmquist, and Lydia (James) Quinlan; sister, Cathy (Ron) Stange; three grandchildren, Asher Holmquist, Bennett Holmquist, and Esmeralda Quinlan.

A memorial service to celebrate Vernelle's life will be held on Saturday, June 20th at 1:00pm at Chattanooga Funeral Home - East Chapel at 404 South Moore Rd, East Ridge, TN 37412. The family will receive friends from 11:00am-1:00pm for visitation and the memorial service will start at 1:00pm.