CHARLES VERNON DROWN Vernon Drown was born in Cameron, MO on June 3, 1928 and died on February 20, 2017. The only child of Roy W. and Vernetta Zeidler Drown, he was reared in Cameron where he graduated from high school in 1946. For 31 years, Vernon was a public school music educator. One year he spent teaching in the Clarksdale, MS Junior-Senior High School and the other 30 years teaching in the public schools of Missouri. His last 20 years of teaching were spent in the Fort Osage R-1 Schools of Independence, MO, where, during the final 14 years he was their district Director of Music Education. As well as being a well-known teacher, respected by his peers and communities, he was also a skilled performer on the trumpet. He began his trumpet playing at the age of 8 when he began taking private lessons from a well-known instrumental teacher in Cameron. His playing experience ranged from performances in symphony orchestra to small dance band combos. One year, early in his tenure at Fort Osage, he organized and played with some of the other area instrumental teachers, the pit combo for a series of public fund-raising performances that the Independence J.C.’s sponsored (and produced) at the William Chrisman Auditorium. In addition to his college and university music education, he also held a graduate degree in Guidance and Counseling which he used upon his 1981 retirement from public school teaching. Following his teaching retirement, his Counseling education was helpful background for the 8 years he spent as a Grief Specialist and Hospice Chaplain at Independence Regional Health Center. In more recent years, he has been relaxing and enjoying the freedoms of retirement. His survivors include Linda, of the home, three children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held at Speaks Suburban Chapel Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 6-8pm. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)