Vernon Theodore Crockett | Obituaries

August 27, 1932 – January 7, 2022

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

Vern, the youngest of Donald and Judith Crockett’s three children, 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 retirement, 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, pinochle clubs over the years and he was a member of Elks Lodge.

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

Throughout his life, Vernon had built many wells, barns, annexes, 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 at the door of death. He would solve construction problems and solve difficult math problems in his head. Vern would overhaul any teenage temporary worker this summer, much to her chagrin. Vern tried, however, to plan his lunch breaks so that they see the current 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 large quantities of Joan’s pies, his competitive cribbage and pinochle games, his enthusiastic jeopardy questions before TV contestant Alex Trebek, his tenacious politician, could answer arguments, and he has a story for every imaginable situation that would remind him of a different thread. A real Scottish Irishman. Later in life, Wayne’s barber shop in downtown Coquille was a popular hangout, and not necessarily for a haircut.

Vernon leaves behind his twelve-year-old wife, Barbara Couch Crockett. 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 the perfect lemon meringue pie, Dad.

Private family grave services are held in the Myrtle Crest Memorial Gardens.

Online reminders and condolences can be shared with the family at www.westrumfuneralservice.com

Arrangements under the direction of Amling / Schroeder Funeral Service – Coquille Chapel, 541-396-3846

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