Vernon "Vern" L Russell

Vernon L "Vern" Russell was on born November 27, 1925 in Prineville, Oregon to parents Seth and Alta Russell. He died on September 28, 2021 at his home in Boardman, Oregon at the age of 95 years. The family moved to Boardman in 1929. Vern graduated from Boardman High School.  In 1943 Vern enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served as a nose gunner in a B-24 bomber.  After World War II, Vern attended Oregon State University for a year and then began his first career working construction as a carpenter on the federal dam projects. While working in The Dalles, Oregon he met Barbara Copple and the two were married in 1955. In 1956, Vern and Barbara, with their son Bruce, moved back to Boardman and Vern opened a Shell gas station along Hwy 30. During the relocation of Boardman in the 1960’s Vern served as chairman of the Boardman planning commission and as a City Councilor for 16 years. In 1965, Vern opened a new gas station along Hwy 84 in the relocated community of Boardman. He later started Russell Oil Co. becoming a fuel Jobber. Vern was an avid fisherman spending time with family and friends’ salmon fishing on the Oregon coast.
Vern was proceeded in death by his parents Seth and Alta Russell, brother Dale, sister Helen and a son Bruce.
Vern is survived by Barbara, his wife of 66 years; son: Don Russell (Susan) of Boardman, daughter: Lorie Coleman (Stacy) of Murrieta, California and daughter in-law: Becky Russell of Corvallis, Oregon. Vern is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. at the Riverview Cemetery, Boardman, Oregon.

In Lieu of flowers please make a donation in Vern’s memory to a charity of your 
choice.
Please share memories of Vern with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vernon "Vern" L Russell, please visit our floral store.