Obituary of Verne James Witherspoon

Verne James Witherspoon was born on July 18th, 1950, in Yorkton Sask. He was the youngest of three children having two older sisters, Linda and Susan. Verne graduated from the Yorkton Regional High School in 1968. He headed off to U of R in 1969 studying for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mathematics. Verne and friend Ken Ostapovich roomed in the residence of Mr. Ramsey the architect of the Yorkton Regional High School. In 1970 Verne dropped out of university and headed to work in Vernon, BC where his eldest sister Linda lived at the time. In the summer of 1972 Verne, Art Swedenski and another buddy Tom Lee headed east to Toronto to get a feel for a cross country drive. Verne stayed around Yorkton for a couple of years. In 1975 after his sister Susan had come back from working in Australia and got a job at the Vancouver General Hospital he headed to the west coast. Later in 1976 he moved back to Yorkton. Verne tried painting and seemed to enjoy the work. The Yorkton pace of life may have been too slow for his liking and in the early 1980's he moved onto Saskatoon. In 1982 while doing a painting job in the McCleod's building in Saskatoon, Verne accidently got locked in the building at night, but decided to keep on working. When he was up on the ladder with a paint can in hand the ladder shifted on him. On the quick way down to the floor Verne broke his elbow and damaged some cartilage in his arm. He often said the only thought he had in his mind at the time was don't let the paint spill. Later that year he headed to McGill University in Montreal to pick up an Education Certificate. He thought teaching English as a second language might be profitable, but never followed through with it. Verne then enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan and began a Bachelor of Arts degree course in Far Eastern Studies. He graduated with this degree in 1985. Verne moved back to Yorkton in 1985, became a Tai Chi master and began teaching classes and studying all he could find on the subject. He moved to Regina in 1990 to open a Gelato and Coffee shop as a business venture, but things did not work out and he returned to Yorkton in 1991. Verne continued giving Tai Chi classes through the community college in the 1990's until the onset of COPD forced him to limit outdoor exposure. He took in Bryan Dodds as a border in 1998. Bryan remained a big part of Verne's life until his passing. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family. We will miss his brilliant mind, interesting conversations and sense of humor. Verne is predeceased by his father James (1989), mother Lucille (2003), Sisters Linda (1992) and Susan (1996). He will be remembered by his nieces; Michele Greene (Raymond) of Cobble Hill, BC, Kari Ostapovich (Francis) of Yorkton, SK and nephew Ryan Harper (Megan) of Calgary, AB, as well as his grandnieces Alysha and Amanda and grandnephews Carson, Colton and Sterling. He will also be very missed by his dear friend Bryan Dodds and his other close friends and family. The family of Mr. Verne Witherspoon sadly announce his passing on Monday, April 1, 2019 at the age of 68 years. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 10 at 2:00p.m. at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with the interment to follow in the Yorkton City Cemetery.Memorials in memory of Verne Witherspoon may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society as gifts of remembrance. Service Details. Service When: Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 2:00pm Location: Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre Address: Highway #10 East YORKTON, SK Interment Location: Yorkton City Cemetery Address: King St. East YORKTON, SK