Vernon Orville Search

Vernon Orville Search, 90 years old, of Milan, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.
Vernon was born on August 10, 1935, in Sullivan County, Missouri to Orville and Sylvia (Nations) Search. On August 11, 1962, he married Beverly Lawrence of Milan, Missouri, who survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Kevin Search, his sister, ViLetha (Search) Vance and husband, Thomas Vance, his brother-in-law, Gary Lawrence and wife, Clarice.
Vernon is also survived by his son, Kirk Search, wife Christi, and grandchild Jaylee, all of Maryville, Missouri, and grandchild Jacob Search, of Durham, North Carolina; his son, Kyle Search, and husband Trevor Simmons, of Columbia, Missouri; his daughter-in-law, Diana Search of Galt, Missouri; and grandchild Holly (Bru) Eddy, and husband Chuck, of Humphreys, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren, Lily Eddy and Cabel Eddy; his brother-in-law, Phillip Lawrence, and wife Deloris, of Milan, Missouri, and several nephews and a niece.
Vernon lived most of his life in Sullivan County, Missouri. He graduated high school from Milan High School in 1954. Vernon then served two years in the United States Army. After his service, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and worked at the Mars Candy Factory for 5 years. He then moved back to Sullivan County, where he spent the rest of his life. He raised beef cattle and worked at the Milan MFA for 30 years.
Vernon enjoyed farming, had an affinity for all things John Deere, including his beloved tractors, and tinkering with anything mechanical in the barn. After devoting many years to farming, his retirement in the late 1990's brought new hobbies. Vernon liked watching old Western movies and television shows, playing solitaire (or "old sol" as he liked to call it) on the computer, and working on numerous jigsaw puzzles. For anyone who met him, he always liked to share one specific piece of advice before they left.."Don't take any wooden nickels."
A graveside service for Vernon will be held 3:00 PM, Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Deep Springs Cemetery, Southeast of Milan. A visitation will be held 1:00 to 2:30 PM prior to the graveside service, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Deep Springs Cemetery.