John C. Vernon, Jr.

John C. Vernon Jr., 68, departed the living for greater things on April 1, 2022. He was born in Longview, Washington on July 22, 1953 to John Vernon and Mildred 'Woody' Latta. His first home was Castle Rock, but attended schools in Longview, Vancouver, and Olympia before graduating from Castle Rock High School in 1971 and completing his Associates degree in Criminal Justice from Lower Columbia Community College. In his younger years John worked in the Longview bag plant for Longview Fibre Company as well as drove a forklift for Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. Moving forward, he worked building and maintaining telephone and communications infrastructure beginning with Pacific Northwest Bell through US West and on to managing the Olympia Region construction department for QWest Communications and retired from QWest in 2007 after 29 years in the industry. With his retirement from QWest, John was able to fulfill the childhood dream of driving a dump truck by completing his CDL credential. He met his wife Oleta Simon of Kalama, Washington while still in high school and they married in 1972. John and Oleta looked forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 21, 2022. John and Oleta had one child, their son Nick was born in 1978. John loved hunting, fishing, and cars. All of John's best hunting stories all began with the words "Mike and I," in reference to his best friend and long time hunting partner who preceded him in death. John spent several years coaching youth football in Castle Rock. John was preceded in death by his father, John C. Vernon Sr.; step-mother, JoAnn Hatton (Vernon); mother, Woody Latta (Cooley); step-father, William 'Bill' Cooley; sister, Sandra Vernon; sister, Kimmy Janise (Hicks); friend, Michael Hallom; and friend, Carol Templin (Hallom). He is survived by his wife, Oleta Simon (Vernon); son, Nicholas Vernon; daughter in-law, Wendy Walker (Vernon); grandson, Cayden Vernon; grandson, Garrett Vernon; brother, Scott Cooley; sister, Deborah Vernon (Hunt); numerous extended family members, and his friends Dave and Kathy Ashley, Steve Ferrell, and Ted and Shelly Westby. At John's request there will be no service.