Vernon Theodore Crockett | obituaries

Vernon Theodore Crockett, 89 of Coquille, died on January 7, 2022 of complications from a hip fracture.

The youngest of Donald and Judith Crockett’s three children, Vern grew up on the Chetco River in Curry County, Oregon. After graduating from Brookings Harbor High School in 1949, he enlisted in the Army. After leaving the service, Vernon married Joan Pettegrew in 1955 and they began dairy farming in Harbor, Oregon. Vernon and his brother Davy also had a logging business at the time.

In 1962, Vernon and Joan sold their Curry County ranch and bought another dairy on North Bank Road along the Coquille River. In addition to milking 80 cows, they have been involved in several bowling leagues and pinochle clubs over the years, and he was a member of Elks Lodge.

Vern frequently told his three children (who didn’t believe him) that he would one day retire from dairy farming. It was a complete surprise when they actually sold the ranch in 1986! However, Vernon and Joan moved just a mile upriver from this farm “to keep an eye on things,” we suspect. Joan died in 2007. They were married 52 years.

Throughout his life, Vernon had built many wells, barns, house additions, and dairies for himself, neighbors, friends, friends of friends, and family. He had poured countless concrete slabs, brought farm implements and heavy machinery back to life, and raised cows from death’s door. He would solve construction problems and solve difficult math problems in his head. Vern would outperform any teenage helper in the summer, much to her chagrin. However, Vern tried to time his lunch breaks to catch the latest episode of the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Vernon will always be remembered for his grace on the ballroom dance floor, his ability to eat copious amounts of Joan’s Pies, his competitive games of cribbage and pinochle, his enthusiastic blurting out of Jeopardy questions before TV contestant Alex Trebek , his stubborn politician, could answer arguments and that for every conceivable situation he had a story ready that would remind him of another yarn. A true Scottish Irishman. Later in life, Wayne’s Barber Shop in downtown Coquille was a popular haunt, and not necessarily for a haircut.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Barbara Couch Crockett, of 12. He is also survived by his three daughters and their husbands, Debbie Crockett and Jerry Brask of Vancouver, Washington, Diane and Dave Buche of Myrtle Point, Oregon, and Cheryl and Harlan Harris who live in Poulsbo, Washington; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Joyce Crockett of Smith River, California.

We still don’t think you’ve ever made a perfect lemon meringue pie, dad.

Private family funeral services are held at Myrtle Crest Memorial Gardens.

Online remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at www.westrumfuneralservice.com. Arrangements are managed by Amling/Schroeder Funeral Service – Coquille Chapel, 541-396-3846

plant a tree in memory of Vernon Crockett For a living tribute, please visit the Tribute Store.