BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 26, 2019– On Saturday, August 24, Vance Cuthbert Vernon, a businessman of Punta Gorda Town died from a heart attack, his son, Nigel Vernon, told us this afternoon. He was 74.

Vernon told us that his father had suffered a myocardial infraction in 2001 and has been on medication ever since then, because he had an enlarged heart.

Vernon did the first three years of his high school work at Lynam Agricultural School, which was located on Canada Hill, in Pomona Valley, Stann Creek District, then moved on to complete his final year of high school at the prestigious St. John’s College, in Belize City, in 1963.

Vernon said that after his father finished high school, he remained in Belize City, where he landed a job with Tan-Sasha airlines.

He worked In Belize City for a year or so before returning to his home in Punta Gorda, Vernon recalled.

Vernon said that when his father retuned to Punta Gorda, he began assisting his dad with the general merchant store which the family owned.

The store was named something like George Vernon Store, and when my grandfather passed away in 1982, my father took over the reins of the business in 2009, he said.

Vernon said that his father passed the business onto him and it has since been turned into a pharmacy and stationary store, which has been selling the Amandala newspaper for many years.

Vance told us that his father is survived by an oldest son, Vance Vernon, Jr., then there is Vince Vernon and my sister is Nayelie Vernon, and the youngest son is Joshua Vernon, and my mom, whose name is Betty Coleman.

Vance Cuthbert Vernon is also survived by four brothers and four sisters. He was the oldest boy and the third child of George Vernon and Catalina Yolanda Reid.

Asked how would he described his father, Vernon said he was a very laid back, easy going person who would always welcome you with a smile. He was a loving husband and a real family man, Vernon explained.