Vern Brunson McCalmant

Vern Brunson McCalmant

Vern Brunson McCalmant, 92, went home to his Lord on Oct. 3, 2018. A graveside service at Grandview Cemetery will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, followed by a luncheon and fellowship at Grace Bible Fellowship.

In a snow storm, on his birthday, Nov. 30, 1937, 12-year-old Vern McCalmant moved to what is now Pleasant Valley where he began his long career in the lumber industry. Throughout high school, he continued sawing and selling cord wood with a buck saw to help support his family.

Upon graduating from Bonners Ferry High in 1944, Vern was called to service in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif., he was shipped overseas where he was wounded on Okinawa. While on recuperative leave home, he proposed to Marjorie, his wife of almost 72 years. After marriage and two boys, Vern was recalled to active service for the war in Korea.

When released from service, he returned to his occupation, sawing logs with a crosscut saw. Later, Vern and his brother Glen bought one of the first chainsaws in Boundary County. This led to his eventual occupation as a logging contractor, from which he retired in 1990.

Vern’s love of the outdoors was transferred to his children and led to years of hunting and fishing with his pride and joy, his sons Doyle, Gary, Gale, and Patrick, two boys, Melvin and Ken, who made their home with the McCalmant family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Marjorie, son Gary and wife Dorothy, son Gale, seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lilly Williams and Beulah Anderson, and brother Tad McCalmant.