Vern Sidney Cleverley was welcomed back into his loving Heavenly Father's arms, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Vern was 91 years old. He passed away one year, one month and five days after his eternal sweetheart. Vern was born May 21, 1924 in Shelton, Idaho to William James Cleverley and Emily Lucinda Harmon. Vern was the youngest child in a family of 11 children. Vern's father passed away when Vern was seven years of age. Vern attended grade school in Shelton. After graduating from eighth grade, he started high school in Ucon, Idaho. He left school to help support his family. Vern spent a lot of time in his younger years at his Aunt Mae Barns home, doing odd jobs around her farm to make what money he could to help his mother. In the summer he took jobs herding cattle in Mackay, Idaho and also worked in Alpine, Wyo., helping the farmers get their crops planted. After all of Vern's siblings were married, he and his mother couldn't do all the work on the family farm themselves. His mother sold the farm and they moved to Idaho Falls. Vern found a job working for Roger Brother's Feed Company. On weekends he would go to Alpine to help area farmers get their crops in. In the spring of 1942, he attended a dance in Alpine. It was at this dance he met a girl by the name of Myrle Sessions from Auburn. Vern dated Myrle and the romance blossomed. On Dec. 1, 1942 they were married in the Logan LDS Temple. Dreams for their future were put on hold in February 1943 when Vern was called to go serve his country in World War II. On Feb. 18, 1943 he was inducted into the service. Vern was called to serve with the 11th Airborne Division. He spent two years, nine months and 28 days in the service of his country. One year, six months and 28 days were spent overseas in the Pacific Theater. Vern served in the Phillippines, Luzon, Corregidor, New Guinea, Leyte, Manila, Okinawa and Sendai, Japan. Vern was decorated with lots of ribbons while serving his country, but the one he was most proud of was the Bronze Star Metal awarded for Meritorious Achievements in connection with Military Operations against the enemy on Leyte, Philippine on 6th of December 1944. Vern was a jack of all trades. He hauled logs out of the mountains which were sawed into lumber to build the American Legion Hall in Swan Valley. He worked on the Palisades Dam. Their first son, Vernal James, was born July 6, 1947. The family moved to Star Valley. Vern worked Ty Camp in LaBarge. He also worked at Gomm's Saw Mill. He worked at the West Vaco Soda Ash Chemical Plant in Rock Springs and at the Rogers Brother's Seed Company in Idaho Falls. On May 28, 1949 their second son, Galen Ray, was born. In 1954, after moving here and there for work, twins were born. Larnell S. and Larna arrived on July 31, 1954. Vern was offered a steady job working for the Star Valley Creamery Company in Afton. Vern worked at the plant for nine years. Vern was able to find a job working for the Star Valley Feed Company. He worked at that job for 29 years. While he was working there, the business was purchased and became Agri Star Feed Company. After retiring, he worked for Star Studs Saw Mill and then took a job working for the Forest Service in the summers. As they grew older, Vern and Myrle spent time living in their children's homes. Vern was preceded in death by his parents, all 10 of his siblings, his wife, a grandson, Joshua White, and a daughter-in-law, Janet Hebdon Cleverley. Surviving are his children: Vernal (Karla), Fairview; Galen (Rhonda), West Jordan; Larnell (Tana), Afton; Larna (Homer Bailey), Hardinsburg, Indiana; 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchldren; two great great grandchildren; 17 step grandchildren; five great step grandchildren; brother-in-law, Donald Sessions. Graveside services for Vern Cleverley will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at noon in the Auburn Cemetery. Full Military Honors will be presented by the VFW Post 4797 and American Legion Post 49. A viewing will take place from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the graveside services at Schwab Mortuary.

January 27, 2016 print edition of the Star Valley Independent.