Verne’s parents were Verne John Sr. and Marlene. Verne was born in 1952 in Beeville, Texas, but he was a military brat and so he traveled with his parents around the United States from Pecos, Texas, to Bakersfield, California. Verne began working at an early age and loved to recount his time employed as a cook when he was young.

He also worked as an insurance salesman, a sheet-metal worker and a repo man.

Verne met Gilda, and they married in 1977. The couple lived in Houston where they began to raise their two children, Tre and Jami. In 1990, the family moved to Franklin, Texas, where Verne started his own air-conditioning company.

Verne earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2001 and went on to work for major air-conditioning manufacturers Daikin and Lennox.

In 2012, after the death of his wife, Gilda, Verne met Claire, whom he married in 2014. Together they traveled around the country. Verne ultimately retired to Columbus, but retirement did not take, and he returned to work as a professor at Blinn College.

In addition to his wife, Gilda, Verne is predeceased by his sister, Patricia.

Survivors include his wife Claire, children Tre and Jami; grandchildren Gabriel, Madeleine and Elise; and siblings Marcia, Joy, Chris and Jackson.

Graveside services were Aug. 30 in Camp Creek Cemetery, where he was laid to rest next to Gilda.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to Camp Creek Cemetery Association, 1511 Texas Ave. South 121, College Station, TX 77840.