Carl Vernon

August 15, 1926 – June 12, 2026

Carl Atlee Vernon, Jr. passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, just two months shy of his 100th birthday. While his family mourns his loss, they take comfort in knowing he welcomed the end as a beautiful gateway to reuniting with the love of his life, Marion Colton Vernon, who predeceased him on March 3, 2025, after nearly 75 years of marriage.

Born in Topeka, Kansas, on August 15, 1926, Atlee was the cherished only child of Capitola (Tola) and Carl Atlee Vernon, Sr. His journey to the Ivy League began with a childhood love for nationally recognized Yale football. He was accepted to Yale College on a scholarship, where he proudly played intramural lacrosse as a short-stick defender.

During World War II, Atlee answered the call to duty, enlisting in the U.S. Navy through Yale's V-12 program. He was assigned to the destroyer escort USS Edward A. Howard. Though the war concluded before he saw active combat, he served honorably and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. He returned to Yale to complete his Bachelor of Science degree before heading home to Kansas.

Atlee dedicated roughly 40 years to the Fleming Companies, rising through the ranks in Topeka and later Oklahoma City, before retiring as Senior Vice President in 1988, when he and Marion moved to Lawrence, Kansas.

Retirement opened up a world of adventure for Atlee and Marion. Renowned for their hospitality, they frequently opened their home to host community fundraising events and loved entertaining friends. Together, they traveled the globe, exploring Thailand, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. They even attended the prestigious La Varenne culinary academy in Paris. Their passion for travel never waned; as recently as January 2020, they embarked on a South African safari in Kruger National Park alongside their daughter, Susan, and granddaughter, Natalie.

In his later years, Atlee found immense joy in the warmth of a bustling four-generation home in Lawrence, Kansas, where he lived with his daughter, Dr. Mary Vernon, granddaughter, Jessica Maher, and great-granddaughter, Astra Maher.

Atlee's legacy of love, curiosity, and dedication lives on in his family. He is survived by his three children: Dr. Matt Vernon (partner Paula England) of New York; Susan Vernon (partner Peter Houston), who carries on the family's traveling spirit working in India; and Dr. Mary Vernon of Lawrence. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Ian Vernon, Gwyneth Vernon, Carl Scott Thomsen, Natalie Rios, and Jessica Maher; and his adored great-granddaughter, Astra Maher.