An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Vernon, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Vernon really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
His parents were Vernon and Sarah Richardson. Even as a child, Vernon had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.
Always a good playmate, Vernon was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Vernon managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Vernon was raised with six. He had Willa, Jerry, Lenora, Renonia, Connie, Alice.
Vernon reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Vernon was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Vernon, life was not a case of all play and no work. Vernon relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He earned his AA at Compton Community College. His favorite courses were Math.
Vernon never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Vernon to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Vernon delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Vernon was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Vernon utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, he became friends with Max. Vernon loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.
The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Vernon very easy to approach. On March 10, 1972 & July 16, 2016 Vernon exchanged wedding vows with Patricia Jean Jackson at Nellis Air Force Base of Las Vegas, Nevada. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.
Perhaps the reason Vernon related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Vernon was blessed with four children, Shane, Michelle, Bobbie Lynn, Jibriel, Paula Shin. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Imani Clark, Gabrielle Clark, Andrew Clark, Tequisha M Harris. Vernon had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Vernon's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Vernon had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.
Vernon was a United States Air Force Veteran. He was in the England, Germany, Japan. Vernon saw action for Vietnam. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Tech Sargent.
Vernon enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Vernon liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were fishing, bowling, cooking, gardening. Vernon was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
Naturally outgoing and generous, Vernon was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Vernon was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included Service Award from VA.
Vernon was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Vernon's favorites was Tigerwoo, a cat. They were best friends for 13 years.
Vernon believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2014, Vernon took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Vernon remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in fishing, cooking, gardening. Even in retirement, Vernon continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.
Vernon passed away on October 7, 2019 at St Rose Dominican, San Martin in Las Vegas, Nevada. He fought a brave battle against Prostate Cancer. He is survived by his wife Patricia, his children Shane, Michelle, Bobbie Lynn, Jibriel and grandchildren Imani, Gabrielle, Andrew and Tequisha. Services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary. Vernon was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.
Vernon brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. He will be remembered with a smile.
