PADGETT, Vernon C.

Padgett, Vernon C. Vernon C. Padgett, slipped the surly bonds of earth Dec-ember 2, 2003. Preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, he is survived by his son, Fred, granddaughter, Patricia Lynn, and two grandsons, Steven and Derek. Born May 22, 1913 in Grand Saline, Texas, Dad moved to Arizona in October 1938 to sell beauty and barber supplies for Ralph Converse. In 1942, Dad joined the Navy, serving as Chief Yeoman aboard the U.S.S. Ingraham, a destroyer, in WWII. After the war, Ralph wanted to retire, selling Converse Beauty and Barber Supply to Dad and his partner, whose interest Dad later purchased. He served as President of a national trade assoc-iation, The Beauty and Barber Supply Institute from 1972-1974. He joined the Phoenix Junior Chamber of Commerce shortly after arriving in Phoenix. Within a year, he was elected to the Board of Directors and was serving as their elected secretary when he joined the Navy. Dad was active in the production of the Phoenix World Championship Rodeo the JC's produced each year, which led to his clowning rodeos in Arizona with his friend Andy Womack. A 65 year member of Arizona Masonic Lodge #2, Dad served on the Board of Trustees for 7 years and was named Trustee Emeritus for his service. He belonged to the York Rite and Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies and El Zaribah Shrine Temple, serving as Potentate in 1970, and was a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He received DeMolay's Honorary Legion of Honor for recognition for his work with DeMolay boys. Dad loved flying, earning his private pilots license with instrument and multi-engine ratings. He logged 4,297 hours flight time and was a member of the Flying Fez Shrine Club and Quiet Birdmen. An outdoorsman, Dad looked forward to going deer, elk and quail hunting with his farming and ranching friends from Gilbert-Chandler and Tonto Basin. His job during roundup time on his friend Buck Nelly's Apache Maid ranch was to weigh and count the cattle. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 7, 2003 from 4:00 to 6:00PM, at Mercer Chapel in the Garden, 1541 E. Thomas Rd., Phx. Funeral ser-vices will be held Monday, December 8, 2003 at 10:00AM at the El Zaribah Shrine Temple, 552 N. 40th St., Phx. Entombment at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery following the services. A reception will follow the entombment at the El Zaribah Shrine Temple. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to El Zaribah Child Hospital Transportation Fund, 552 N. 40th St., Phx., AZ, 85006. Published in the Arizona Republic on 12/4/2003.