Owen Vernon’s eulogy of his Grandpa Vernon (lived: June 1913 - March 2013)

My grandfather Vernon Burt was a man of outstanding character, he was born in an era that he often described as: The days when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel and he fit this era well. 

When men talk about great men it is often on the subject of their worldly accomplishments however this is not what made my grandfather a great man. He never built the tallest building, he never led armies on the battlefield, he never discovered uncharted lands or scaled the highest mountains. His greatness was not in his personal exploits but in his heart. He was a man that gave up his love of the sea for the love of his family; he was a loyal husband of one woman, an honest cop, and a true role model. You would be hard pressed to find one person who did not like him. One of his greatest pleasures was in helping others, it did not matter if you were family, a friend or a complete stranger, you could count on Vernon to help in whatever way he could. Though he constantly helped others during his life he never expected anything in return. He was a fiercely independent man and never wanted anyone to have to go out of their way for his sake.  

Another one of his great qualities was his sense of humor, though sometimes this manifested it’s self as sabotaging his grandchildren’s sandwiches it was always in good fun. He had a way about him that could brighten anyone’s mood.  

Though during the latter part of his life he was in considerable pain it never affected his temperament, were as I know from personal experience I would not have been the same he remained humorous humble and full of joy.

As a grandfather he was the best any boy could ever hope for. He was a grandfather who seemed to come straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. He was kind understanding and full of knowledge. It seemed to me that he knew how to use every tool known to man and could fix anything; I still think so for that matter. 

To his credit having many things to boast about he never did, he remained humble to the end. My grandfather’s greatest achievements in this life were not made of things that are decaying but are made of the things that will and do live on in the positive ways that he touched the lives of his children his friends his colleagues and all those that knew him.

(Note: Grandpa Vernon was born 112 years ago today.)