Vernon Dale Stewart went to his heavenly home on Sept. 13, 2023 at the Guardian Angel Home in Hermiston.
Vernon was born on Aug. 27, 1930 to Frank and Birdy McCoy Stewart in La Grande.
Vernon spent most of his childhood in the Grande Ronde Valley. He attended first through fourth grades in North Powder, Kamela, Grass Valley and Ione. His father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad building bridges and with a small trailer moved from job to job. He attended fifth through eighth grades in Island City. He attended high school in La Grande, graduating in 1948. After graduation he joined the United States Navy, as World War II had ended and the Korean Conflict started. Receiving an honorable discharge, he served in the Active Naval Reserve for six years.
Vernon married Marilyn Reeder in La Grande on July 22, 1950. They began their married life in Irrigon, where they have lived for 73 years. Vernon went to work at the Umatilla Army Depot where he served as foreman, general foreman and production controller, retiring in 1977.
Vernon stayed active in the Irrigon community serving on the planning commission and city council. He was appointed mayor pro tem in 1977 and was elected as mayor in 1978, serving a few years in that position.
Vernon was instrumental in construction of Columbia View Community Church over several years. One interesting note is that the church was built with some of the materials salvaged from the barracks at the Pendleton Airport. The barracks housed the men under Gen. Doolittle’s command, training for the Doolittle Raid over Japan in World War II.
Vernon was a devout Christian who believed Jesus is Lord and Savior of the world. He was a member of the Gideons for many years. He participated in distributions of Bibles and New Testaments to motels and schools.
He was an avid hunter of birds, deer and elk. He enjoyed hunting with his uncles, cousins, nephews, son and grandson. Of particular note, he scored on at least 46 bull elk during his hunting years. He enjoyed riding his horse Truma, and he and his father would ride horses into the high lakes camping and fishing for a week every summer.
Vernon was an outdoor person, had a flare for western style, and wore cowboy boots most of his life. He enjoyed listening to western country music (the old singers) and gospel music. He watched all the TV westerns every day.
Vernon is survived by his wife of 73 years, Marilyn; son, Thomas (Dolores) Stewart of Kennewick, Wash.; daughter, Sharon (Duane) Yunker of Terrebonne; grandchildren, James (Heather) Stewart of Gulfport, Miss., Derek (Brianne) Stewart of Irrigon, Kurt (Jennifer) Yunker of Mesa, Ariz. and Tara Barcellos of Terrebonne; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother, Warren (Marcia) Stewart of Pendleton.
A celebration of life will be held at the Columbia View Community Church, Irrigon on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.
Burial with military honors will follow in Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Irrigon.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
