Vernon Davies Saunders

Vernon Davies Saunders, 87, of Missoula, passed away at home on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, after a short battle with cancer.

He was born on July 11, 1926, in Plains City, Utah, to Elmer S. and Thelma Davies Saunders. He lived in Preston, Idaho, and Ogden, Utah. The family moved to Missoula in 1939. Vern graduated from Missoula County High School in 1944.

After high school, he worked for the Forest Service as a "smoke chaser" firefighter in Montana, Idaho and Washington.

In 1948 he met the love of his life, Thelma Scheffelmaer, and they married on Dec. 17, 1949. They lived in the Rattlesnake area until 1955 when they moved to the house that would be home until his death.

Vern worked two jobs for many years in order to provide for his growing family. He worked at White Pine Sash. He also took over the gasoline station repair business that his dad Elmer had started in the 1940s. Saunders Equipment became a successful gasoline station construction and repair company under his guidance. He always found a job in the company for a friend or family member that was unemployed.

Vern and Thelma always had the coffeepot on and welcomed everyone into their home. His friends were like family and to many he became a father figure. He was quick to anger (yell) and just as quick to forgive. He instilled in his children and grandchildren a strong work ethic by example.

In the '60s Vern began another career as a custom gunsmith. He opened the doors to Vern's Gun Shop. Vern specialized in custom-built rifles and developed his own cartridge line called the Renegade. The Renegade rifles are in use all around the country by hunters and marksman alike. As the reputation grew for Vern's precision rifles he was contacted by numerous law-enforcement agencies and began supplying them with counter sniper rifles. Vern was rightfully proud that his rifles were now being used by SWAT teams around the country to save lives. Vern's Gun Shop will continue to operate under the care of his family out of love and respect for this man. His love of firearms, hunting and the outdoors will live on, a legacy that he left to his family.

He and Thelma purchased land in Trout Creek in the mid-'80s and it became the family gathering place in the summers. The memories created there will live on and be shared with future generations of Saunderses. Vern loved his time at the lake and made his last trip just after his cancer diagnosis.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Barbara Bryant, Lorna (Dee) Williamson and Helen Fey.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Thelma of Missoula; two daughters, Lynda (Byron) Jacobson of Frenchtown and Verna (Mark) Denton of Missoula; one son Larry (Marilyn) Saunders; one sister Joyce Hudson of Eureka. He had 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Vickie Baier Kreis was a special daughter that was his loving caregiver during his brief illness. Special friends Lex Herndon and family and Charles Robbins. Several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to say thank you to the staff of Partners Hospice for their kindness and support during this difficult time. A very special thank-you to Claire Sherwood and Wendy Bowlin from Partners for the help and comfort that you provided to Vern and his family.

Goodbye, Dad. We love you

Read Vernon Saunders's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.