VerNon Dale Bright

VerNon Dale Bright passed away at his home in Richmond, Utah on November 12, 2013 due to a valiant battle with cancer. He was born to Dale Spackman Bright and Lila Purser Bright on April 11, 1933 in Richmond, Utah. He is the second of five children: Afton Cleve Olson, VerNon, Sherwin Bright, Bonnie Bright, and JoAnn Gordon Coulson. VerNon grew up in Richmond and lived there all his life with the exception of 4 years in Paradise, where he did some ranching on the White's Trout Farm. He attended grade school in Lewiston and Richmond, and he played football and basketball at South Cache and North Cache. VerNon had one main hobby: raising and training horses. He loved to participate in cutter racing before expensive horses were required to compete. He cared for his horses until his death. He use to fish and hunt but turned that over to his son and stayed with his horses. He married LaNay Payne from Trenton on Jan. 23, 1960. Together they raised three children: Karen Greg Muir located in Mendon, Utah, DelMar Susan Bright in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and Sandra Ray Clark in Malad, Idaho. After LaNay passed away in 1981, VerNon married Isabelle Thompson Merrill in 1982, who brought two step children to the marriage: Jamey Monica Merrill located in Richmond, Utah and Mark Robyn Merrill in Layton, Utah. VerNon left school in his senior year at North Cache to help his father haul milk. After working for Pet Milk in Richmond for several years, he started on the cleanup crew and then moved to the fillers. He drove as a Relief Driver for 5 years and managed the boilers for 2 years after that. VerNon aided in the making of the first vat of cheese at the factory. Finally, due to some prompting from others, VerNon applied at USU as a boiler tender and was hired the next day. He refused promotions to move up to the hill, preferring to stay in the boiler room and train the new employees. He received the Employee of the Moth Award from USU in Feb. 1987 and the Employee of the Year Award in March of 1988. He is survived by his wife: Isabelle, his children: Karen, DelMar, Sandy, Mark, and Jamey and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There will be a viewing Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 from 6-8 pm at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 S. Main St. in Smithfield and then again at 9:30-10:30 am on Nov. 16, 2013 at the Richmond Stake Center. The Funeral will follow, beginning at 11 am at the LDS Stake Center, Richmond, Utah. Interment will be in the Richmond City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com