Obituary of Vernon E. Painter

Vernon E. Painter, Jr. died at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. He was 57. Vern was born in Olympia on May 19, 1956, to Vernon E. and Gloria Painter. He is survived by his two adult children, Zachary Painter and Sarah Abraham, both of Olympia; four grandchildren; two sisters, Virginia Painter Shannon of Olympia and Diana McCallum of Longview; one brother, Bill Painter of Olympia; and five nieces and nephews. He grew up on Long Lake and later in the Hawks Prairie area, where he attended South Bay Elementary School and was graduated from North Thurston High School in 1974. He worked briefly in Alaska and enjoyed his experiences there. He was an electrician and worked for many years at the Washington State Department of Transportation. Vern was an affable guy who loved his family, valued friendship and enjoyed the people around him, from co-workers to neighbors and people he met in the community. He raised his children for many years on his own. Many remember Vern was a “Mr. Mom” around the neighborhood. A familiar scene was of Vern shepherding son, daughter and a dog – first Sundance and later, Alley, into the extended-cab pickup truck that served as toolbox, transport and trailer hauler for a boat that provided many joyful hours on the water. Vern was an avid fisherman his entire life, starting with an obsession to catch an iconic bass that teased him from the shallows near the dock on Long Lake when he was a small boy. (Yes, he did catch that fish.) He also was a lifelong sports enthusiast. As soon as he could throw a baseball, Vern became known as the great “lefty hitter” of the neighborhood. He continued playing baseball and softball throughout his childhood and well into middle age. Throughout his life, he followed his favorite teams on television (especially the Mariners and Seahawks) and often during games would call sports buddies to share post-play excitement over the phone. Vern was the perennial optimist. He loved to laugh. He was wise and wise-cracking. Some will remember him for his humorous commentaries on life and human nature, dubbed “Vernology 101” by the many young people who enjoyed hanging out with him in the Black Lake neighborhood where he lived with his kids. He could be irascible and argumentative, but he had a big heart and cared deeply. He tried not to take himself too seriously and could poke fun at his own foibles. Vern was not religious, but he was reverent, expressing gratitude for the Creator who made him and the beautiful world that he felt part of. In his final days, he said if there was one thing he would do to celebrate that, it would be this: “Go fishing!” Please leave memories of Vern or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.