Vernon G. Dillard

Vernon Gale Dillard Vernon was born in Piedmont, Missouri, to Jessie Agnes Hollis Dillard and Lucien Emory Dillard. The family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where Lucien built a home in 1936, and the children grew up. Lucien Emory Dillard's home was built on the northern portion of Vernon's grandfather William (Elic) Dillard's property. In 1973, Vernon built his home on the southern portion of Lucien Emory Dillard's property. All three men loved farming.

Vernon graduated from Grand Junction High School. He married Barbara Carol Turkle Dillard on November 20, 1951, and moved to Frisco, Colorado, where he worked for the Colorado Highway Department, plowing snow on Vail Pass. Vernon worked for Colorado Highways for 37 years before retiring. His career included work in Frisco, Dillon, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Mesa, and Grand Junction. While working full-time in Mesa, Vernon built a three-bedroom log house and a garage.

He was a fifty-year member of Cedar Chapter #62 Order of Eastern Star and Plateau Lodge #101 A.F. & A.M. In 2012, he was awarded the Colorado Masonic Secretary of the Year. Vernon served as Secretary of Plateau Lodge for 43 years. He was a Rainbow Dad for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and was awarded the Grand Cross. He was appointed Grand Representative to West Virginia for the Colorado Order of Eastern Star. Vernon was also a Worthy Patron for several years, a Past Patron of Collbran Order of Eastern Star #102, and a Past Master of Plateau Lodge #101 A.F. & A.M. After Plateau Lodge #101 and Cedar Chapter #62 closed, the membership was transferred to the Order of Eastern Star Sunshine #53 and the Masonic Grand Junction Lodge #173 A.F. & A.M.

He was a fifty-year member of the Mesa Methodist Church. On May 9, 2015, he transferred his membership to the Clifton Christian Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. While working full-time, Vernon built a second home in Grand Junction, along with a pond and four barns.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lucien Emory Dillard; mother, Jessie Agnes Hollis Dillard; brother, Kenneth Dillard; sister, Lena Dillard Norwood; and great-granddaughter, Audrey Rose Davis.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Carol Turkle Dillard; two children, Shirlene Kay Dillard Turbyville (Troy) of Titusville, Florida, and Dwayne Forrest Dillard (Catherine) of San Diego, California; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and his sister Wanda Ogle.

Service is to be held at the Grand Junction Memorial Gardens in the Mausoleum at 1:00pm on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Please send donations to Hope West