Keith Owen Vernon

Keith Owen Vernon, 90, was born August 25, 1925 and passed away on May 16, 2016. Fourth child of five, to Samuel Show Vernon and Delvene Katharine Mason Vernon of Kenilworth, Illinois. Keith and his brothers and sisters all graduated from New Trier High School, where Keith’s father was on the faculty and even composed the New Trier High School fight song. Keith served our nation bravely during WWII, first as W-2 Naval Officer Recruit, later in Central America, Panama and Ecuador. Following that tour, Keith was assigned to naval duties in the Pacific, seeing the Solomon Islands, Guam and ultimately, Japan. Keith was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and entered Illinois Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Illinois. In 1948 he met Marion Maxine Bute, of Homewood, Illinois. They were married in Homewood, January 19, 1952. Keith and Marion, now both equipped with teaching degrees, started teaching in Belleville, Illinois. In 1955, they relocated to Arlington Heights, Illinois, to start their careers at the Wheeling School District. Marion retired in 1961 and they purchased a home in Prospect Heights, Illinois. Twin boys, Scott Stuart and Stephen Keith were born that year. Keith continued teaching at schools, Walt Wittman, Jack London, and Homes Jr. High of Wheeling. To make ends meet, Keith also worked countless basketball games as the score keeper, referee, and later coached track at Wheeling High School. His hard work did not go unnoticed, and was also hired by the Wheeling Park District, Heritage Park, and later, as an assistant manager of Chevy Chase Country Club, also of Wheeling Illinois. In 1989, Keith was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Hall of fame, for his unwavering support of high school sports. In 2008, he was inducted in the Wheeling High School Hall of Fame. Keith and Marion relocated to Arlington, Texas in 2003 and Marion passed away in 2004. Keith has suffered, on and off from cancer treatment since 2003, and passed away peacefully at home, in Arlington, Texas, in home hospice.

Keith is survived by his sister, Virginia Williams of Venice, Florida; son Scott and grand-daughter Lauren Patrice of Arlington, Texas, son Stephen and wife Terri of Tampa, Florida; daughter in law, Donna Vernon of Arlington, Texas, and nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at First Christian Church, 910 S. Collins, Arlington, Texas, at 11am on Thursday, May 19. Interment will take place at Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. The family will receive friends at Moore Funeral Home from 6 until 8pm on Wednesday, May 18.

In addition to flowers, donations may be made to Texas Christian University School of Music, care of Bobby Francis, 2800 S. University Dr., Ed Landreth Hall #331, Ft. Worth, TX 76129. The family is also grateful to Harbor Hospice of Ft. Worth, Keith’s many successful former students, friends, and family.