Michael Arthur Verney, of Venice, Fla., formerly of Sparta, N.J., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020.
Born in Brockport, N.Y., Mike spent his early childhood in Lake Stevens, Washington. For his junior high and high school years jis family moved to Sparta, where he was known as “Moose” to his schoolmates, first playing and then assistant managing for the football and basketball teams. He was a 1979 graduate of Sparta High School.
After graduating high school, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Marines, spending his service years in Twentynine Palms, California.
After leaving California, Mike returned to Sparta where he worked as a long-haul trucker, a tire mechanic, and later as a tractor-truck operator.
A short time after his parents retired to Florida, Mike relocated permanently to Venice.
Settling into Venice, Mike worked in the shipping yard at Crom Equipment Rentals as a yard foreman, and in landscaping, driving a tri-axle dump truck. Later years he worked warehousing and delivering for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Herald Tribune, and Gondolier Sun. For several years he volunteered transportation services for Venetian Harmony, a Sweet Adelines a cappella barbershop chorus for women.
He enjoyed his time visiting local dog parks with his golden retriever companion, Samantha, and was voted president of a local dog walkers’ group.
Mike was the type of person always willing to be helpful to others in need. With a quick, hearty laugh, and a kind smile, Mike was considered by all who knew him as a “gentle soul.”
Mike was predeceased by his parents, George R. and Judith L. Verney.
Michael is survived by brothers Christopher G. now of Sarasota, Florida and Timothy R. (SHS ‘80) now of Hillsboro, Oregon; a nephew, Benjamin G. of Hillsboro; a neice, Emma G. of Hillsboro; sister in-law Michele Lee of Hillsboro; and a wide range of aunts and uncles and cousins in and around Upstate New York, Oregon, Ohio and Ontario, Canada.
Local arrangements are being handled by Farley Funeral Homes and Crematory, Venice.
Commemorative services with Military Honor Guard, rifle salute and flag presentation will be held in New York State on Saturday, July 24. A memorial celebration-of-life service and fellowship for family and friends will be held starting 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, followed by ceremony at the Parma Union Cemetery. Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home in Hilton, N.Y., is handling arrangements.
Contact Tom Burger (or family/staff) at 585-392-7100 (also burgerfh.com) to confirm prior to travel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Research Foundation.