Vernon Mort, Cape Canaveral

Vernon A. Mort, 82, died Thursday, November 12, 2009. Born May 24, 1927 in Traverse City, MI, he was the son of George and Mary Louise (Grosskopf) Mort.

A 1945 graduate of St. Francis High School in Traverse City, he then earned a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit. Vernon served our country at the end of World War II as a member of the U. S. Navy and the U. S. Army.

He enjoyed ballet, studied dance at the Arthur Murray school, and he was an avid ski and golf enthusiast.

His life interest was the NASA space program and any thing to do with space. He retired from the Planning Research Corporation (PRC) at Kennedy Space Center where he was responsible for KSC and VAFB time compliance and tech instrumentation for the Space Shuttle Checkout Systems. He lived his remaining years in the Cape Canaveral area that he loved.

Vernon is survived by two sisters, Marina Rodzik of Westland, MI and his twin sister, Veretta Tulos of Grand Bay, AL; plus several nephews and nieces including Beverly Albrecht (Mort) who saw to his care and welfare during his latter years. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold, Herbert, Edward and Joseph.

Visitation will take place from 5 until 7 p.m. Tues day, November 17th at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home, 101 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach.

Additional services and burial will take place in Traverse City, MI. The family is served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684. www.reynolds-jonkhof f.com. Any memorial contributions may be directed to Beverly Albrecht, 19751 Maple Leaf Trail, Traverse City, MI 49684.