Vernes Adair Watson

Vernes was born to Fred and Violet Hanberg in Enumclaw, Washington on December 27, 1931. She attended her early school years, with her older sister Lorraine. Both graduated from Enumclaw High School but then went their separate paths.

Vernes embraced the University of Washington, living and fully involved with the Alpha Phi Omega sorority. She was a fashion major and thrived in design and wearing her personally created and completed clothing. She also modeled shows at Nordstrom’s anchor store in Seattle since she wore size 5 shoes.

Thinking that New York was the design mecca, Vernes felt her best opportunity to afford the next step in fashion design was to join United Airlines as a stewardess. That would allow her to live in the city while she studied.

Although her ardor for design and clothing creation never left her, a United transfer from New York to Colorado basing happened. Vernes made many friends in her stewardess career and flew for four years. While visiting her parents in Seattle, she met Dale, her future husband. That weekend, they agreed to marry and three months later began a 64 year partnership.

Verness was an interesting mix of socialite, mother of two, home designer and gardener. She was a sportswoman in boating, tennis, golf and camping but never lost her passion for design and sewing her own and others clothing.

In their prior home, in the Bay area, Vernes was an active member of Saratoga Country Club as a tennis player. When they retired to Fresno, she became an ardent golfer at Ft. Washington and then at San Joaquin Country Club. Dale and Vernes enjoyed their sports and traveling for many years, still partnering.

They had prepared for gracious aging except for one disease they had not considered. Vernes began to exhibit memory loss and then a nine year Alzheimer’s battle finally ended her life on November 14, 2022.

Vernes and Dale had been attendees of the Episcopal faith for many years – In Everett, WA, Saratoga, CA and in Fresno. The need to learn and grow spiritually led them to embrace and submit to Christ at Riverpark Bible Church in 2007. This began a glorious transformation in their lives which made Vernes’ leave-taking for heaven her greatest flight.

She leaves son Thomas, daughter-in-law Jennifer, granddaughters Brittney and Kaitlynn Watson, daughter Stacy Ann Liddicoat and grandchildren Justin George Liddicoat and Sloane Liddicoat and sister Lorraine Hanberg Murphy.