FARMINGTON – Verne Allison Byers, 83, of Anson Street, died March 7, 2011. Verne was born June 15, 1927, in Houlton, son of the late Grant and Viva (Duplisea) Byers.
Verne graduated from Houlton High School. He attended the University of Maine, Orono. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946, he attended Farmington State Teachers College, where he was a member of Kappa Delta Phi fraternity and played on the basketball team. He graduated from Farmington State Teachers College in 1951 with a degree in elementary education. After graduation Verne taught seventh grade in Wilton and math and science in Ashland and Caribou. Verne received his Master of Education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Maine, Orono, and completed postgraduate work at the University of Vermont and Illinois State University. Verne returned to Farmington with his family in 1966 to teach math at Farmington State Teachers College, which later became the University of Maine at Farmington. He was a math professor for 26 years, and continued to be active in local schools by volunteering in many classrooms to encourage innovative teaching methods. Verne was inducted into the University of Maine at Farmington’s Athletics Hall of Fame for more than 25 years of service to the University of Maine at Farmington basketball program, which included serving as timer for basketball games for many years. Verne devoted many years to the University of Maine at Farmington Alumni Association, having served as treasurer of the Alumni Council and Alumni Foundation for years. He also served as chair of the Alumni Scholars Program. In 2003 the University of Maine at Farmington conferred a doctor of humane letters degree, honoris causa, to Verne for his professional, community and volunteer service to the university. He was an active member of Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine, Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Verne was a longtime member of Henderson Memorial Baptist Church. He
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church, having served as financial board treasurer, church moderator, superintendent of Sunday school and member of the finance committee, pastoral relations committee, diaconate board, advisory council and nominating committee. Verne also taught Sunday school and volunteered for many other church activities. He was a longtime member of Farmington Rotary Club. He served a term as president and supported their numerous projects. Verne was a board member of Bonney Woods Corp. from 1972 until the time of his death, and had served terms as president and clerk. Verne loved to travel with his wife, Lora, including trips to Williamsburg, Va., Alaska and Europe, and numerous other trips throughout the U.S. and Canada to visit family and friends. Verne will be remembered for taking a personal interest in his students, encouraging them to go on to higher education and mentoring them personally and professionally, his service to his church and community, and his daily walks to and from his Anson Street home. Verne took great pride in his family and made spending time with his family a priority.
Verne was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Lora. He is survived by four children, Charles Byers and his wife, Brenda, of Oxford, Ala., Elizabeth Byers Small and her husband, Thomas, of Chester, Patricia Urbanski and her husband, Thomas, of Cloquet, Minn., and Julie Hutchinson and her husband, Trent, of Pownal; five grandchildren, Abbie and Kallie Hutchinson of Maine, Ginger Davenport, David Webb and Amy McCollum, all of Alabama; seven great-grandchildren all of Alabama and numerous cousins.
Friends are invited to visit 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, March 11, at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Academy St., Farmington. After the services, all are welcome to attend a reception in the church fellowship hall. Private committal services will be held at a later date at the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Henderson Memorial Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 147, Farmington, ME 04938 or the University of Maine Alumni Scholarship Fund, care of Pat Carpenter, 242 Main St., Farmington, ME 04938. Cremation and memorial services are being cared for and provided by Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. Tributes and condolences, as well as a memorial video may be shared at
www.wilesrc.com.