Vernon Lloyd Searcy

A graveside service will be at 2:00 pm Friday, September 2 at Memory Gardens Cemetery with Sherman Eastland, chaplain at Odyssey Hospice, officiating. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home 2800 South Osage St. Vernon was born on May 28, 1938 in Beaver, OK to Victor Omar and Maxine Searcy. He departed this life on August 30, 2011 in his home after a lengthy illness. He attended Beaver public schools graduating in 1956. While in high school, he enlisted into the Army Reserve serving from December 1955 to December 1963 at the rank of Sgt. In January 1957, Vernon enrolled at Panhandle State University, in Goodwill, OK, and graduated in 1962 with a Batchelors degree in Social Studies/Science. He then went on to teach at Coolege, KS, and South Middle School and West Junior High in Liberal, KS for a total of 31 years. He retired in May 1994 and moved to Canyon. Vernon married Joyce Blackwell on August 18, 1972, and became an ""instant Dad"" to Dale and Roberta. In 1973, his son Darren was born. He was blessed with 2 grandsons, Seth and Charles, in 1988 and 1989 whom became his adopted sons in March 1994. In 1998, he was blessed with his first granddaughter, Kaitlyn Taylor; in 2002 a grandson, Kaden, and in 2008 a granddaughter, Haley Ann. He was a very family oriented person. His wife and children meant the world to him. Vernon always said he was ""a jack of all trades, master of none"". He was a wonderful husband, Dad, Granddad, and a dedicated teacher. He farmed and worked in the oil field for Fields and Son in Beaver, Southerland Lumber in Amarillo, WT University in Canyon, was a house parent for Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, and drove a truck for Melvin Tucker in Canyon. On May 20, 2011, he was diagnosed with cancer and remained optimistic until the end. He was one in a million and is going to be greatly missed by all. Survivors include his wife; 4 sons, Dale and wife Tina of Topeka, KS, Darren of Canyon, Seth and wife Shayla of Gate, OK, and Charles of Canyon; a daughter, Roberta McKinney of Canyon; 3 grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Haley, and Kaden; a brother, Charles and wife Carol of Las Vegas, NM; a sister, Jerri Payne and husband Doug of Tulia, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.