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Vernon Ernest Hitchcock, 92

| April 14, 2021 1:00 AM

Vernon Ernest Hitchcock, 92, passed away on April 1, 2021, at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Vernon was born on Sept. 30, 1928, in the Nettleton Gulch area of Coeur d’Alene, to Clarence and Rosa (Dennison) Hitchcock. He had three brothers, Byron, Fred and Elmer. When Vern was 4 years old he and his family moved to the Gibbs area. When he was 6 years old Vern went to Winton Elementary School.

As a child, one of Vern’s favorite toys was a little wooden gun that his mother made for him. He called it “beeb beeb gun” and took it with him all over! People would say “Here comes Vernon with his beeb beeb gun!” and even started to call him “Beeb.” The name stayed with him.

When he was young, Vern and his friends used to sneak down to the river during recess to go swimming. Vern liked to fish, hunt deer and gather wild mushrooms. He also liked to pick huckleberries. As a young man, Vern worked for Coeur d’Alene Laundry. He also worked in Spokane as an elevator operator.

At age 17, Vern joined the Army and was a prison guard in Germany. When he came back home Vern worked for three years in Oregon for J.C. Compton, where he laid oil on the roads.

On June 28, 1952, Vern married the love of his life, Betty Rose Braden. Betty and Vern had two sons: Clifford and Mike Hitchcock.

After that he worked for R.E.A. Vern also worked at the Coeur d’Alene Garbage Company for 30 years. Later, Vern worked for Rutledge Lumber (which became Potlatch Lumber) for 20 years. Vern retired when Potlatch sold the lumber mill in 1997. On his last day of work there he broke his leg.

When Vern retired he liked to cook. He made good breads, cookies and his favorite thing was to smoke fish.

Vern is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Rosa (Dennison) Hitchcock; his brothers, Byson, Fred and Elmer; and his son, Mike Hitchcock.

Vern is survived by his wife, Betty Rose Hitchcock; son, Clifford Hitchcock; granddaughters, Christy (Ken) Snyder and Mandy (James) Enloe; great-grandchildren, Hailey and Cameron Woodman and Miranda Enloe; nephews, Bill Braden, Bruce Storla and John and Jim Hitchcock; nieces, Sandy and Barbara Braden, Jenny Hitchcock, Jennifer and Rosie; best friend, Josh McKaim; cousins, Richard and Rod Hazelton and Roger Sherman; and many more family members and friends.

The graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Forest Cemetery, 1001 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared on Vern's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.