Vernon Ray "Vernie" Brown Obituary's Obituary
Vernon Ray (Vernie) Brown was born August 14, 1954 to Loyd and Ruth (Taylor) Brown in Centerville, Iowa. He passed away from this life peacefully in his sleep on July 27, 2013 at his home in Promise City, Iowa. Vernon was raised in Seymour, Iowa and attended Seymour Community Schools. As a teenager Vernon loved to drive 'muscle' cars and hang around with his older brother Ricky and Ricky's friends getting into all kinds of mischief but having lots of fun. During his teenage years Vernon began his long journey of hard work starting with putting up hay for area farmers, working at the Derby Gas Station in Seymour, and at The Neighborhood Tap in Seymour for Shorty Holmes. He worked at L&M Tire in Seymour, drove semis for Dick Parker, Marvin Leach, Oden's Trucking, Johnson Tire and also drove rock trucks. He worked with Robert Merritt running the Conoco Station in Seymour and when Robert moved away Vernon managed it for him. In later years of life Vernon worked with local farmers in the spring and fall. He worked for Ziggy's and Rod's Auto. He trained dogs with his brother-in-law Shawn Davidson, ran a bait route for Mason Blizek, worked for Blizo Fish Farms and also lent a hand to his brother-in- law Galen Lunsford at Lunsford Auto until the time of his death. Vernon worked in law enforcement for the majority of his life and began that career as the Seymour Marshall in the 1970's. He then went on to become a deputy sheriff at the Appanoose County Sheriff's Office, the Decatur County Sheriff's Office and lastly at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office where he was also Chief Deputy and a K-9 officer. All in all, his law enforcement career spanned 27 1/2 years. Vernon loved to help people and often went out of his way to help others. That's why he loved law enforcement so much and spent so much of his life working in the law enforcement field. His most treasured time though was when he worked with Cyro as a K-9 officer doing drug detection, tracking, apprehension, and officer safety. They were a match made in heaven from the time they started working together. Vernon and Cyro spent every minute in and out side of work together. Cyro's passing was a huge loss to Vernon and he never got over it. Vernon had another very special friend, his bird dog Missy Jo who became a companion more than a hunting dog because she was gun shy. She too was always by his side and her passing affected Vernon for the rest of his life. These were just two of the many dogs Vernon had over his life time and who were close to his heart. Just as he had many, many friends throughout his life time, but his love for his family was the greatest. He got to experience what being a Grandpa was like before he died when his niece and nephew Taylor and Gunnar Guffey were born and then with the addition of three special girls, Casara, Maddy, and Mya Willey. Vernon spent many hours hunting. He loved to hunt coon, deer, turkey, duck, pheasants, anything and everything. Hunting was one of his favorite things to do. He found peace and tranquility in the woods whether it was in the cold light of day on a pond or in the timber late at night listening to a coon dog tree a coon. He also loved to fish, cut wood, mow yards, coach baseball, umpire, work with kids or do anything with kids. Vernon loved spending time with his family and friends sharing a few laughs and good times. Vernon truly loved life and he tried to live his life to the fullest surrounding himself with people he loved. Vernon never knew a stranger and he was well known and loved all over the state of Iowa and in many other areas of the United States. He was a very hard worker and even in retirement was never truly 'retired.' He was always working and he rarely rested. On December 24, 1977 Vernon married Martha (Marti) Throntveit at the home of Rev. Louie Schaffner. To this union two children were born, Heidi Norene Brown and Heth Vernon Brown. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years Martha (Gertie) Brown, daughter Heidi Brown and boyfriend Bill, son Heth Brown and significant other Michelle Willey and her daughters Casara Lynn, Maddy Leigh, and Mya Michelle, brother Ricky Brown and wife Janet of Seymour, sister Lori Lunsford and husband Galen of Allerton, sister Connie Guffey and husband Ron (Le) of Promise City, and sister Debbie Davidson and husband Shawn of Russell. Sister-in-law Jodi Rainey and husband Carl, sister-in-law Kay Throntveit, brother-in-law Gary Throntveit and wife Carol, brother-in-law Mike Throntveit and wife Chris, his mother-in-law Helen Throntveit, and his very special hunting and fishing buddy Colton Brazeal also survive Vernon. His parents Loyd and Ruth Brown, niece Amanda Brown, father- in-law Thomas Throntveit, brother-in-law Larry Throntveit, his grandparents and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were very special friends Alan and Norma Griffith, Dave Donald, Jim Biggs, Kirk Hampton, Sandy Wright and his dogs Cyro, Missy Jo, Coach and Scooby Book Travel to Services To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Vernon Ray "Vernie" Brown Obituary please visit our Sympathy Store.
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