Leon Neil Vernon

Leon Neil Vernon, 93, of Evant, Texas died on July 25, 2026.

Leon always said he was fortunate to be born in America on January 30, 1933, in Jefferson Oklahoma to great parents, Albert and Nellie Swanson Vernon, who taught him to always do what’s right, work hard, and treat others as you would want them to treat you.

His paternal grandparents came from Kansas and participated in the Land Run in 1891 near Guthrie, Oklahoma. His father was born in a covered wagon in Indian Territory as the family waited for the run. His paternal parents came from Sweden, settled in Minnesota and then his grandfather came on the train to run in the race for land in the Cherokee Strip in 1893.

Leon, the youngest of 7 children, grew up on a small farm near Wakita, Oklahoma and attended the Gore Consolidated School through the fifth grade. The family then moved to Chickasha, OK where Leon graduated from high school in 1951. He received a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and later graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 1977.

In 1955 Leon began his career with Conoco where he spent 23 years in management. Then in 1978 he joined a management consultant team for 3 years in San Antonio, Texas and Puerto Rico. His team brought Commonwealth Oil Refining Co. – a subsidiary of Tesoro Inc. – out of bankruptcy. Since 1981 he has enjoyed working full time at his ranch in Evant, Texas.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Judy, daughter Ingrid Vernon, brothers Glen M. and Wayne Vernon, sisters Mildred Reusser and Lois Scaramella as well as brother Lester Vernon and sister Madge Vernon who died as infants.

He is survived by his daughter Leanna Sorcar and her husband Ajoy of Kensington, NH, son Glen W. Vernon and his wife, Denise of Chickasha, OK and 3 grandchildren.

Interment will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, OK with no formal ceremony.

In lieu of flowers or the like, Leon would prefer donations to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.