Vernon Dale Hawthorne, 84, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023, at his farm in Odessa.

Visitation will be held from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m., Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Ralph O Jones Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be at 11:00a.m., Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, 12507 Mt. Tabor Road, Odessa, Missouri, 64076.  Burial to follow at Mt. Tabor Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church or Mt. Tabor Cemetery Association. Memories of Vernon and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 South Second Street, Odessa, Missouri  64076, 816-633-5524.

Vernon was born on November 22, 1938, in Leeton, Missouri, to Willard W. and Anna Fae (Cox) Hawthorne. Vernon graduated from Mayview High School in 1956. He began full-time employment with Hallmark Cards, Inc., in Kansas City the following fall. Vernon was drafted into the United States Army in December, 1961, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and was honorably discharged in December, 1963. Vernon and Lola Belle Couch were united in marriage on October 24, 1964. Vernon retired from Hallmark Cards in 1994 after 38 years of employment. He was a regular contributor at the morning "farming" table at JJ's Down Home Cafe. Along with caring for his livestock and tending to his crops, Vernon enjoyed spending time with his much-loved grandchildren.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Lola Belle Hawthorne, of the home; three daughters, Beth Ann Fox and husband Chad of Mayview, MO, Lea Ann Hawthorne and fiancée Fred Walter of Trimble, MO, and Sara Ann Hawthorne of Odessa, MO; five grandchildren, Celestia Ann Shippy (Drew), Willard Dale Fox, Clay Fox, Robert Magruder, and Austin Magruder; one great-grandson, Liam Shippy; a brother, Ronnie Hawthorne (Martha) of Mayview, MO, and a sister, Betty Tyree (George "Art"), of Blue Springs, MO; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.