LaVern Charles Gillmore's Obituary
LaVern Charles Gillmore, age 91, passed away on December 27, 2023. He was born on August 8, 1932 to Clinton Stram Gillmore and Evelyn Louise Somsen in Salt Lake City, Utah in the midst of the Great Depression. He overcame initial health complications and went on to become a distinguished athlete, and served in the Korean War as part of the Marine Reconnaissance Units.
After his military service, Vern pursued higher education, earning degrees from San Jose State University, Stanford University, and East Coast University. He dedicated his career to education administration, serving as a high school teacher, college instructor, and Vice President of the College of San Mateo.
Vern's entrepreneurial spirit led him to venture into various businesses, including a successful ice cream store, the Mendocino Ice Cream Company, where he earned the Gold Medal for Gourmet Ice Cream in California.
In 1952 Vern married Marilyn Liddle in the Logan Utah temple. They had three daughters, Jeanette (Philip Miller), Sandra (Robert Whitney, Steven Hinde), and Kelly (Rick Allemandi). Vern and Marilyn’s marriage ended after twenty years.
In 1999, Vern met and married Karen Laughnan, a woman with a military and nursing background. They built their dream home in Woodland Hills, Utah, where Vern actively volunteered in his community, particularly through the American Red Cross and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program.
Even after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease in 2013, Vern continued to inspire by becoming a public speaker and spreading awareness about the disease.
Vern was preceded in death by his parents, brother Clint, twin sister LaVonne, and daughter Kelly. He is survived by his wife, Karen, his daughters Jeanette and Sandra,, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 26, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park at Camp Williams in Bluffdale, Utah. Vern’s family encourages well-wishers to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association in lieu of flowers.
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