Vern was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 31, 1931. He was the youngest child of LaVerne Brimley and Thelma Dahlen Brimley. He grew up in a loving home with parents and four older siblings who adored him. Vern attended South High where he was known to be very friendly, talented and smart. He excelled at athletics where he ran track and played basketball. A good friend recently said, “Vern was the leader and the smart one.”

After graduating from high school, Vern served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern Canada Mission. At the culmination of his service, he hitchhiked home and shocked his mother when he showed up early one morning.

Vern continued his studies at Brigham Young University where he pursued the love of his life, Dawn Jayne Baker, the “prettiest girl at BYU.” They married on March 17, 1955, in the Salt Lake City Temple. He earned his bachelor’s degree and began his career as a teacher.

Vern was a consistent provider for his family. During his college years and while teaching, Vern enjoyed extra employment at KEYY as a popular disc jockey. He also worked on air at the KLOR-TV station in Provo. Vern taught school at the BYU Lab School and other Provo elementary schools. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees which offered him opportunities to become a principal and a central office administrator in Provo School District. His many students and coworkers loved him and respected him. He could charm anyone with his sense of humor and kindness. He retired from Provo School District after 30 years of dedicated and exemplary service. He was particularly proud of his work obtaining federal grants to help support the local schools. He became an expert in federal funding.

He was asked to coauthor a textbook, “Financing Education in a Climate of Change.” He eventually became the lead author and was working on the latest edition when he passed away. This textbook is used around the world as a leading source on financing education. Vern taught Financing Education to graduate students at Brigham Young University for several years.

In 1962, Vern was one of 75 educators in the United States to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, which gave him the opportunity to teach school for one year in Redditch, England. He and his wife and their two little girls traveled across the country by train and crossed the Atlantic on the USS America. They spent a wonderful and difficult year in England, experiencing one of the worst winters on record. While there, Vern served as a Branch President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Vern served in many leadership positions as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He also served in leadership positions in the National Education Finance Conference, where he will be memorialized in fall of 2026, the Provo Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Education Association, Big Brothers, Head Start and Freedom Credit Union. His family fondly remembers the many Credit Union dinners where he was the perfect emcee.

Above all, Vern loved his wife and family. He adored Dawn and was loyal and dedicated to her for 67 years. He was delighted to be the father of three daughters whom he almost always introduced as “my lovely daughters.” He was patient, kind, supportive, interesting and fun. He was an excellent listener and conversationalist. He had the absolute best sense of humor. Vern and his family had many wonderful experiences including holidays, singing in the car, fishing trips, vacations to Hawaii and California, family barbecues, visiting on the front porch, and playing card games.

He is deeply loved. We cannot adequately express our profound loss. We will continue to live by his example by laughing a lot, remaining involved and interested, staying curious, spending time together as a family, and by trying to think of others and put their needs above our own with grace and humility. This is his legacy.

Vern is survived by daughters Lisa Marie Clark (David), Sheryl Thomas, and Shana Heyn, and grandchildren Lindsey Wilde Voltolini (Brian), Jayne Clark Wells (Jed), Russell Wilde, Katie Clark Hydrick (Lance), Charles Brimley Clark (Stephanie), Daniel Clark (Laura), Andrew Vern Thomas (Aubrie), Paige Heyn Pectol (Ian), Mitchell Heyn (Jordyn) and Serena Heyn Knaphus (Kody). He leaves behind 27 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dawn, and his son-in-law, Michael Heyn.

Services honoring Vern’s life will be held on December 20, 2025, at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 North University Avenue, Provo, Utah. A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Vern will be interred at Eastlawn Cemetery.