Stephen LaVern Vernier, MD, of Yukon, Oklahoma, entered into the presence of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior on August 20, 2024, in Yukon, Oklahoma. He was born to Duane and Janet (King) Vernier on April 1, 1957, in Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio. He was a 1975 graduate of Morenci High School in Morenci, Michigan.
Steve married Rebecca Arleen Smith, who he loved dearly, on June 29, 1985, at Lake Overholser Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma. Steve and Rebecca met at Bethany Nazarene College in Zoology class on the first day of classes in 1984.
Steve graduated from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Steve returned to Southern Nazarene University in the fall of 1984 to complete science courses that were prerequisites to apply to medical school. He was accepted to The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1989 and graduated in 1993. He completed two years of Internal Medicine Residency at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and then transferred to OUHSC Family Medicine Residency, which he completed in 1997.
Dr. Vernier had family medicine practices in Mustang and Yukon, Oklahoma until 2009. In 2009, Dr. Vernier chose to serve the elders of our community and their families. He began a practice in serving long term care and skilled nursing residents in the Oklahoma City metro area and as far as Clinton, Oklahoma, in partnership with Mercy Hospital. When Mercy closed this practice at the end of 2019, Dr. Vernier joined the practice of Long Term Care Specialists. In 2021, Dr. Vernier founded Paragon Geriatric Associates, where he continued to bring excellent and compassionate care to patients in skilled rehab and long term care. In the last 3 years, Dr. Vernier became the Chief Medical Officer for Diakonos Group. In this role, he found a team who was as dedicated as himself to holistic and excellent care for patients who live full time in long term care centers or brief stints in skilled rehab. This will be a lasting legacy as they continue this work.
Steve and Rebecca were blessed with two sons, Austin Ryan and Travis Hunter. He was very thankful that he was able to see Austin graduate from law school and begin his practice and Travis graduate from medical school and start residency. His family was a major priority, and he was their number one supporter and encourager. Long road trips were the norm for family vacations when many fond memories were made and so many interesting things were seen and discovered during unscheduled stops. Large backyard BBQ get-togethers for celebrations and no reason at all were a favorite time of his. It was a time that everyone could stop for a while to laugh, talk, and reminisce. Steve enjoyed many simple pleasures, a few of which were history, mowing the lawn, sunrises and sunsets, woodwork, and the countryside.
Steve was raised in the Morenci Church of the Nazarene, where he was instilled with a faith heritage and dedication to God. In Oklahoma, Steve was a member of Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. Over the course of his lifetime, he served as church board member, Sunday School Superintendent, and Sunday School teacher at Calvary Church of the Nazarene. In the early part of this year, he was studying and preparing to teach a class at Bethany First Church, but this was never realized as his health began to deteriorate.
Steve is survived by his wife, Rebecca; children, Austin Ryan Vernier of Oklahoma City, OK, and Travis Hunter Vernier (fiancée Emily) of Oklahoma City; father, Duane Owen Vernier; and siblings, Reginald Vernier of Newton, IL, Ricky Vernier of Woodstock, VA, Cynthia Vernier of Piedmont, OK, Pamela (Michael) Schafer of El Reno, OK, and Douglas (Donna) Vernier of Warr Acres, OK. Coming from a large family, Steve will also be remembered by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, other family members, colleagues, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet (King) Vernier; grandparents, Rex L. Vernier, Rosie (Schoonover) Vernier Punches, and Harvey and Gladys King; and step-grandfather, Kenneth Punches.
Steve’s family will receive guests on Thursday, August 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service in Bethany, Oklahoma. The funeral will take place Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m., Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany. Rev. Lewis McClain and Rev. Doug Vernier will be officiating. Interment will follow in Frisco Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Memorial contributions may be made to Answers in Genesis, Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, or Southern Nazarene University Business, Science, or Music Departments. To share condolences or to view the livestream of the service, visit www.mercer-adams.com.
