Vernon Paul Smith, passed away January 3rd, 2009, at the Life Care Center in Brookfield, Mo. Vern, also known by friends and associates as "Chick" or "Smitty" succumbed to liver failure.
Vern was born July 27, 1930 in Hartshorn, Missouri, to Ada and Zachariah Herbert Smith. He was the 7th of ten children born and raised on the family farm. After an early graduation in 1946, Vern taught at Round Valley School near Hartshorn. He then joined the United States Navy in 1948. "Smitty", as his fellow sailors called him, served a year that included tours in Panama and Cuba. He served on the USS Power and the USS Dyess. After his service in the U.S. Military, Chick moved to California and stayed with his sister Eula in Mill Valley, California. There he met his wife Marlene Patricia Mullen in Santa Rosa, California.
Chick and Marlene were married in 1958. They had three children: Mona Marlene, Virgil Paul, and David Alan.
Chick became a union carpenter in 1952 and worked in the trade for many years. He worked his way from carpenter, to foreman, to general foreman and then superintendent. Over the years he oversaw many high profile projects, including the original Alpine Meadows ski lodge in Tahoe, the Village Mall in Corte Madera, enclosing the Northgate Mall in San Rafael, and Skywalker Ranch in San Rafael, home of George Lucas's Lucasfilm.
When Chick retired in 1985, he declined an offer to work on Euro-Disney and shortly thereafter decided move back to his home state of Missouri to perform evangelistic work for the Church of Christ. Vernon was baptized into Christ in 1961 and was an active member of the Church until his death. Vern served in many communities in Missouri and the Midwest. He made many friends and supporters while serving his faith.
After his initial move back to Missouri, Chick moved to several communities, including Hartshorn, Summersville, and Ozark; his last home was in Meadville.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Virgil, Clinton, Walter, Ralph, and Charles; and sisters Eula Murfin and Mildred. Vern is survived by his wife, Marlene, his children, Mona, David, Paul and daughter-in-law Diana, his grandchildren Steven, Zachary, Nicole and Luke, brother Arthur of Sonoma, California, sister Velma Wallace of Villa Ridge, Mo., and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held January 8th, 2009 at 1:00 Pm at Bradford's Funeral Home in Summersville, MO, with Rev. Thom Dennis Officiating. Interment was in Antioch Cemetery in Hartshorn, Mo under the care of Bradford Funeral Home of summersvillle, MO.
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