Vernon Lea Hargis

1925-

Vernon Lea Hargis was born in Conasauga, Polk County, Tennessee on 30 Sep 1925. He is the son of Charles Ottis Hargis 1896-1976 and Maudie Marie (Chapman) .Hargis 1901-1985. Vernon was raised on a farm in Rowan County, Kentucky. He volunteered for service in the US Navy during the outbreak of WWII, joining on 7 Oct. 1942.  Seventeen years old at the time he had to lie about his age to get accepted. Vernon served aboard the USS Sands APD-13 as Machinist Mate 3rd Class. His ship and crew participated in most of the major battles in the South Pacific. Vernon was honorably discharged on 24 Feb 1946. On 24 Dec 1947 he married Eula Letha Littleton, daughter of  Leslie Medley Littleton and  Louie Mae Hamm, from Rowan County, Kentucky. They lived for a while near Cincinnati, Ohio where Vernon worked at Fisher Body in Hamilton, Ohio. In 1951 the family moved to Oregon where he worked with his Uncle Thomas A Hargis in Thomas's logging business and later worked with other logging companies. Vernon also worked at the Martin Box Company in Oakland, Oregon as well as the Nordic Plywood Mill in Sutherlin, Oregon. The family left Oregon in 1962 and moved to Clermont County, Ohio. Vernon and Eula raised seven children, Caroline Kay, Shirley Lee, Eula Mae, Debra Ann, Angela Renee, Timothy Wayne and Philip Daniel. Vernon was working as a truck driver when he retired in 1985. He and Eula moved to Tucson, Arizona for a few years after his retirement but later returned to Clermont County, Ohio.

The Hargis Family

(back L-R) William Ottis Hargis 1924-2005, William Norvel Hargis 1869-1946, Jack Gordon Hargis 1927- , Nancy (Gearhart) Hargis 1871-1959 , Vernon Lea Hargis 1925- , Charles Ottis Hargis 1896-1976, Maudie Marie (Chapman) Hargis 1901-1985, Patricia Nell Hargis 1938-, (front L-R) Robert Elmo Hargis 1929-1996, Sally Jean Hargis 1931- , Randell Delano Hargis 1933-1990, Thomas Clark Hargis 1935-2010, Thomas Allen Hargis 1904-1982

Vernon Hargis

Vernon Hargis is back row 5th from left. Aboard USS Sands WWII.

Vernon Lea Hargis with grandmother Nancy (Gearhart) Hargis 1871-1959  and daughter Caroline Kay Hargis

Vernon Hargis and wife Eula Letha (Littleton) Hargis

"Happy 60th wedding anniversary 24 Dec 2007"