Laverne P. Hampton

Laverne P. Hampton (Vern), age 102, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away peacefully March 26, 2021, at the Village Place Health and Rehabilitation Center in Port Charlotte, Florida. 

He was born in Vermontville, Michigan to the late Rex and the late Myrtle (Heaven) Hampton.  He was preceded in death by his first wife of 25 years, Virginia (Hubbard) Hampton, in 1973, with whom he had 2 sons, Glen and Jane (Fenlon) Hampton of Saint Ignace, Michigan, and, Gerald and Rosemary (Wolf) Hampton of Gainesville, Florida.  He was also preceded in death by his second wife of 34 years, Beverly (VanDusen, nee Smith) Hampton in 2008; three sisters, Crystal, Marie, and June; seven brothers, Ronald, Donald, J.R., Hank, William, Raymond, and Norman. 

Besides his 2 sons, he is survived by 4 grandchildren:  Sarah and Nathan Scott of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Melanie Hampton of Skagway, Alaska,  Colleen Lavon of Gainesville, Florida, and Heather and Kendall Shoecraft of Ypsilanti, Michigan;  3 great-grandchildren:  Stella Lavon,  Archer, and Lola Scott;  sister Donna and Tom Salik of Charlotte, Michigan;  Sister-in-laws Phyllis Hampton and Marge Bennet;  niece and caregiver Rex-Ann (Garvey) and David Lee of Punta Gorda, Florida;  and,  many cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

He grew up on a farm in Vermontville and graduated high school there, after which he moved to Detroit, Michigan for work.   He served 5 years in the US Army during World War II in the European theater, awarded 5 bronze stars, and an honorable discharge in October 1945.  After the war, he returned to work in Detroit until he retired to Rose City, in northern Michigan, in 1980 with his second wife.  After wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida for several years, they permanently moved, year-round, to Deep Creek in Punta Gorda in 1990, where he lived until his death. 

He enjoyed traveling in his camping trailer and later motor home, including to Alaska 5 times, multiple trips to Michigan and Florida, Arizona, Nova Scotia, and many other areas.   He also loved fishing, wood carving, painting, golfing, and his 1979 T-top Corvette with his Peace River Car Club friends. 

He will be buried with a military service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, alongside his second wife, Beverly.  A small memorial service for neighbors and friends will be held at a later date. There will not be a visitation and funeral service.   In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be sent to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of SW Florida, 3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers, Florida 33901 or on-line at https://donateharrychapinfoodbank.org. 

All arrangements and care provided by Johnson-Taylor Funeral & Cremation, 1515 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, Florida.