Vernon Smith

Obituary of Vernon Herbert Smith

Greenville, Maine and Las Vegas, Nevada – Vernon Herbert Smith, 80, passed away February 28, 2024, at a hospice home in Las Vegas after a long illness. He was born August 14, 1943, in Greenville, the son of Alberta Roderick Smith and Gerald ‘Jerry” Smith. After graduating from Greenville High School in 1961, where as a Junior he was the starting Quarterback and Safety on the High School Football team who won the Piscataquis League in 1959, Vern entered the U.S. Army where he had many adventures and did well. He attained the rank of Sergeant just 2 months away from becoming a teenage Sergeant.Vern served 19 months in the Far East and South East Asia. With Okinawa being his headquarters of the 999th Signal Co. (support) Vern, and others were sent on missions of varying lengths to Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan (at least twice each). Vern often commented that he never did get his duffle bag fully unpacked. Vern thought he left the combat theater of operations behind and thankfully escaped unscathed. After he was discharged, he attended the University of Maine in Orono, Maine, where he successfully obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Finance) in only three years. While there he served as a Staff Sergeant in the Maine Air National Guard. After years of working for large, medium, and small corporations He decided to attempt his own business an Accounting, Tax, and Consulting endeavor. A year after startup Nancy joined the company. The business was very successful and they were able to sell to a friend and associate some 13 years later. At about this time Vern learned he did not escape the Army totally unscathed. He had been (presumed) exposed to Agent Orange during a Viet-Nam mission. This exposure led to Diabetes, Heart Disease, hearing loss and other health problems. Since all his health problems were deemed attributed to presumed exposure to Agent Orange the VA labeled him “100% disabled, service connected”. From that point on the VA cared for him (medically) in all matters. Drugs, Primary Care, and specialty care. Surviving is his wonderful wife of 47 plus years Nancy (Varner) Smith;a daughter, Tiffanny, an attorney; a son, Roderick (retired Law Enforcement) and wife, Lek; three grandchildren Brendan, Sierra, and Jacob; as well as many Roderick cousins. He was predeceased by both his parents; younger brother, Carroll; two favorite cousins, Armand Davis and Norman Inman; and three special uncles Russ Smith, Adrian Morin and Lawrence Roderick. Vern’s cremains will be buried at a later date next to his parents in Greenville. There, he will await Nancy’s return to him. Mission terminated. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
A Memorial Tree was planted for Vernon
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Lary Funeral Home-Dover-Foxcroft
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