Curtis Vernon, 59

Curtis Vernon, 59, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Saturday Oct. 11, 2014. He died at home with his loved ones.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 25th at 1:00 p.m. at the Mountain Springs Church.

Curtis Wayne Vernon was born on March 30th, 1955 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho to Annie Mae and Melvin Vernon. He was the youngest of four siblings. After high school in 1972 Curt went into the Navy and spent the majority of his naval career aboard the USS Dixon, stationed at Ballast Point Naval Base, Point Loma in San Diego, CA. There he met and married Gayle VanAllen and became a father to her son Brent. The two had four children in all. In 1975 he left the Navy, moved home to North Idaho and worked at the Louisiana Pacific mill in Moyie Springs. In 1977 Curt moved his family to Mesa, Arizona where he went to work for Marathon Steel until 1981 when he moved back home to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He went to work for Bonners Ferry Feed and Grain until 1986.

In 1985 Curt and Gayle separated. In 1987 he moved to Montana with his son Jared. He worked for the Champion mill in Libby, Montana. He bought property in Troy and built a log cabin from the ground up using logs from his own land. He moved back to Bonners Ferry in the fall of 1995 and has resided here ever since. He worked at Clifty View Nursery for 14 years.  He cared for his elderly mother until he fell ill this past winter. He married Rita Wolf in July of 2014.

Curt had a deep love for the wilderness of North Idaho. He enjoyed hunting, archery, shooting guns, “boondocking”, huckleberry picking, daydreaming, solitude, reading and camping. He loved to find a road and see how far up it would take him. Although he was not patient enough to fish for pleasure, he still spent time teaching his children how to fish. His favorite author was Louis L’Amour. He loved to dance, and his daughters loved to stand on his feet while he danced. He also gave the biggest and best bear hugs.

He is survived by his wife Rita Vernon, his four children Brent (Jennifer) VanAllen, Leslie (Chris) Pease, Jared Vernon and Bethany (Ryan) Vernon-Beard, fifteen grandchildren, one great grandson, sisters Lois Florea and Carolyn Warner, and brother Russell Vernon, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Mel and Annie Vernon, his niece LeaAnn Patchen, nephew Cris Berger and his beloved dog Roose.