Vernon Lester Brake Jr.

Vernon Lester Brake Jr. completed his earthly journey on April 8, 2026. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Services have been entrusted to Baggerley Funeral Home. A celebration of Vernon’s life will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N. Portland in Oklahoma City. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Edmond. A public visitation will take place on Monday from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home, located at 930 S. Broadway in Edmond.

Vernon was born on November 30, 1974, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Vernon and Nancy Goble Brake. He was raised in Coyle and graduated from Coyle High School with the Class of 1993. In May of 1999, he met Melissa through mutual friends, beginning a love story that would shape the rest of his life. Vernon graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 2002. That same year, he and Melissa were married and made their home in Edmond, where they built a life centered on love, service, and family. They were blessed with two sons, Hayden and Dawson.

In 2006, Vernon proudly joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, graduating as a member of the 56th OHP Academy. He served nine years as a patrol trooper with Troop A before transferring to Troop S in 2015, where he worked in the Size and Weights Division. In 2022, he transferred to conducting federal audits. Vernon took great pride in his work and the people he served alongside, earning the respect and admiration of his fellow troopers. Vernon was a man of strength and humility, often described as a gentle giant. He was quick-witted, kind-hearted, and steadfastly dependable. He served as a mentor and role model to many younger troopers and left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. His legacy of service, love, and quiet generosity will continue to live on in the lives he touched.

While his career was meaningful to him, Vernon’s greatest joy was his family. He loved Melissa and the boys deeply and poured his time and energy into being present in their lives. He spent years coaching little league football and, as his sons grew, became affectionately known as the “OCS Football Dad,” always ready to lend a hand—whether hauling equipment, setting up, or cheering from the sidelines. He was a devoted member of the OCS Booster Club and a steady, dependable presence wherever he was needed.

Vernon and Melissa found their happy place with their boys at Lake Texoma, where they enjoyed boating, the Texoma sandy beach, and simply being together. He had a servant’s heart and a passion for helping others, which led him to become involved with Ascocaviva, traveling on mission trips to Guatemala to help provide clean drinking water to rural Guatemalan communities. He was a Master Mason, a supporter of the Coyle FFA, and a man who found joy in the simple things—mowing his yard, farming, raising cattle, and spending time with those he loved most. Some of his happiest moments were spent running or lifting with his boys, attending concerts, or cheering on OSU alongside Melissa, Hayden, and Dawson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Nancy Brake; his Grandma Faye Goble; his grandparents Clarence and Violet Brake; and Melissa’s grandparents Irvin and Dona Roberts.

Those left to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy include his beloved wife, Melissa Brake; his sons, Hayden and Dawson Brake; his siblings Jennifer and husband Lance, Jamie Brake, Adam Brake, Stephen Brake and wife Tysa, and Katie and husband Jason; his brother-in-law Joey Rushing and wife Heather; his nieces and nephew, Tatum, Lucy, Ivy, Jax, Nevaeh, Axyl, Amethyst, and Kaylynn; his in-laws Jeremy and Patricia Stinnett; grandparent in-laws Jerry and Deb Stinnett and Danny and Linda Deal; as well as his three loyal dogs, Troub, Bo, and Milo, and his longhorn steer, Nash. He is also survived by many extended family members, dear friends, fellow troopers, and his OCS family.

Those wishing to honor Vernon’s memory may do so through donations to the Vernon Brake Fund created for their sons at DPS Federal Credit Union, 3650 N. Martin Luther King Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, or to Ascocaviva in care of Baggerley Funeral Home, 930 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034.