OP/ED: Vernon's Kuntry Katfish: Flooded, But Will Rise Again

CONROE, TX -- I had just seen Ms. Mary Bowers, from Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish, last Wednesday morning. She lovingly brings the Veterans of The Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans Group breakfast the first Wednesday of each month. And I, being myself, gave her an obligatory hug as I always do. And since the passing of my own Mother, then the passing of Second Mother, Esther Duncan, I’ve started to see Ms. Mary as a motherly figure in my life.

We chatted about our little sit down that we had earlier this year, where we literally had a two hour lunch, just snacking, tasting Vernon’s menu, and having a great visit. Ms. Mary told me of the restaurant’s upcoming 40th Anniversary, of which I was excited to cover later this month. And as Ms. Mary departed the Veterans group, little did we know that less than 24 hours later last Thursday, the beloved katfish restaurant would be under water again. The second time since Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

I had a busy Thursday. I went to my coffee group, then I went up to Huntsville to view some storm damage, then had an unexpected lunch, which turned into a restaurant review, before making my way down to Conroe’s Switch for a drinks review. By the time I got back home, had a snack, and unwound a bit, it was dark. Then I checked in on Facebook, that’s when the wind was knocked out of me, and I saw the pictures of the flooded Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish.

Ms. Mary and restaurants’ dilemma really bothered me. I slept terribly Thursday night? It was like I was in a daze, falling in and out of consciousness at my desk not really wanting to submit to a horizontal position. Finally around 4 am I decided to hit the sack, and just like clockwork from Wednesday night at 4:02 am as well, hail started with the terrible rain, this time with marble sized hail, from the previous night’s pea. And again it didn’t stop thundering for six or seven hours.

My dear readers, we have to help Ms. Mary and her daughter Debbie, and not to mention getting the store back up and running. And especially for the employees of Vernon’s. Of course, there are many people all around Montgomery and surrounding counties that are suffering from the recent flooding, but Vernon’s is a hub for all the people. It’s a place where we can sit down and feel welcomed. We can go there whether we’ve had a good or bad day, and enjoy a nice meal that undoubtedly makes the day brighter.

For the old timers amongst us, they will remember the two lane SH 105 and the original ten-table restaurant when it opened in 1984, and you can see a glimpse of the past on the front page of the menu. The sacrifices that Vernon and Mary Bowers’ went through to make a successful restaurant is why we continue to return to Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish time and time again. Ms. Mary and the store family deserve our help. They don’t cry rivers when something goes wrong, they adapt and overcome. That’s how the ‘Good Pie,’ was born for Heaven’s Sake. Even with the loss of Ms. Mary’s husband, and her sons, especially Buster; the restaurant has continued to flourish with Mary’s daughter Debbie, who does an amazing job in keeping the ship afloat, and the tradition going.

Please remember that Vernon’s does not have any insurance. For restaurants located in low lying areas, luxuries like that. Well, they are way too expensive for a restaurant, which has margins that are already slim to begin with. The Bowers’ employees will continue to be taken care of during this crisis. The resilience of Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish makes us stronger as a community. Their success is our success, and the restaurant will rise again. There is no doubt about that.

Please donate to get Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish up and going again on Go Fund Me. ‘Help Revive Vernon's Flooded Restaurant.’

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-revive-vernons-flooded-restaurant

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net