- Date Of Birth: June 18, 1933
- Date Of Death: May 28, 2017
- State: Idaho
Vernon Davis was born on June 18, 1933, in Medford, Minnesota, and he died at home of natural causes just short of his birthday at the age of 83. His parents were Floyd and Otilla Davis, and he was the oldest of three children, which include his sister, Nancy Letney, and his brother, Lynn Davis. He is survived by his daughters, Debbie Rodenbaugh and Pam Mittleider; his son-in-laws, Robert and Steve; his grandchildren, Samantha, Mandy, Mishele, Mike and Kim; and his great-grandchildren, Dakota, A.J., and Ricky. His beloved wife, Jayne, died in 1999. He grew up during the Great Depression, and the family moved several times so that his father could find work and put food on the table. The family eventually found their way to Payette. Those difficult times helped create the hardworking man he would become. He graduated from Payette High School, a great accomplishment for someone who had moved around so much, especially as he always started school two weeks late because he worked after the harvest at a prune packing shed. Vern met his wife, Jayne Brumet, the love of his life, in high school, and they were married in June 1953. Vern worked at a furniture store and a Safeway, hoed beets, bucked spuds, and worked at a local newspaper. In 1951, Vern joined the Idaho National Guard where he started as a cook, was promoted to mess sergeant, then ammo sergeant, and was then promoted to a chief serving in the Idaho National Guard Howitzer Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Armored Cavalry. Vern was honorably discharged in 1959 with the rank of sergeant first class. Vern was drawn to the newspaper business and began working for the Idaho Statesman in 1962, where he retired after 35 years in 1997. Vern enjoyed working for the newspaper where he first learned to make up pages using hot metal typesetting, and later transitioned to phototypesetting when technology improved in the 1960s, working on the night side as a makeup man. Vern was an amateur geologist who loved the outdoors, and he spent much of his free time prospecting in the hills above Idaho City for gold or silver. He started with a rock hammer and hand lens, later panned for gold, and used a sluice box. Although he never hit the mother lode, he enjoyed the process of searching for the elusive ore deposits with his family and friends, and even taught his grandchildren and great grandchildren how to pan for gold. Vern suffered two strokes after the death of his wife which compromised his health, but he continued to enjoy the attention and affection of his family who valued his presence in their lives, and hugs for grandpa were a regular part of his life. He was proud of the lives his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren made for themselves, and never failed to brag about their accomplishments. With the assistance of his family, his home continued to be the center of holiday and birthday celebrations and he watched fireworks, Easter egg hunts, and water fights from the comfort of his chair. Just as Jayne’s passing created a new family dynamic, Vern’s loss will be felt for many years to come. But knowing that they are together now gives the family great comfort, and eases his passing.
