Funeral services for Vern Dailey, aka “Muffin”, 83, of Wills Point, are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 7, 2012, at Hiett’s LyBrand Chapel in Wills Point, TX, with Dr. Billy Watson officiating. Burial will follow at White Rose Cemetery.

Vern passed away Thursday, October 4, 2012, in Wills Point.

Vernon Augustus Dailey, was born in Alba, TX, on September 12, 1929, to Robert and RosaLie Dowdy Dailey. He graduated from Emory High School and attended a Commercial Art School. Vern married Joyce Ridenhour and they made their home in the Dallas Metroplex. Joyce preceded him in death and he later married Jimmie Nabors. He and Jimmie moved to Wills Point to make their home in 1974. Jimmie also preceded Vern in death.

Vern Dailey’s first job was as a film processor for the Eastman Kodak Company. He then spent two years with the Sixth Armored Division of combat engineers for the United States Army. Vern joined the WFAA family in December of 1955, and stayed for the
retired after forty-one years. Starting in the film department, he went on to work as a film editor and projectionist. Vern produced and directed numerous shows for the station including: “Romper Room,” “The Julie Benell Cooking Show,” “The Murry Cox Farm Show,” Ed Hogan’s “Dialing for Dollars,” Jerry Haynes’ “Dallas Bandstand,” as well as many week-end newscasts and commercials.
Vern co-wrote, directed, designed sets, and created and operated puppets for the popular children’s show, “Mr. Peppermint,” from 1961 until 1969, and for the new, “Peppermint Place,” until 1996. He also directed “News Eight Jr.” and edited film until 1975.
Vern is a much published cartoonist and poet. He illustrated letters from viewers
for Mike Shapiro’s, “Let Me Speak to the Manager,” show and is a long time
member of Poets of East Texas (P.O.E.T.). Vern is a proud member of the Dallas Songwriter’s Association, where he was recognized as “Songwriter of the Year”
three consecutive years. He has received many songwriting awards, and is a two-time first-place winner in American Songwriter Magazine’s lyric contest in Nashville, Tennessee. Vern has six songs covered by independent artist in Nashville, Houston and Austin. He is currently co-writing, with Doug Gabriel, the Doug Gabriel-Roy Clark show in Branson, Missouri. Now working as director for The Van Zandt Community Theater in Wills Point, Texas, Vern has appeared in several of their productions. He keeps Muffin, and other Peppermint puppets, alive on his “KID’S KORNER” page of COUNTY LINE magazine, which covers all of East Texas.
Vern will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Vern is preceded in death by his two wives, Joyce Dailey and Jimmie Dailey, an infant son, step-son, Gary Lee, great-granddaughter, Stevie Rae Johnson and brother, Floyd Dailey.

He is survived by sons, Gary Dailey and wife, Tracy of Decatur, and Greg Dailey and wife, Debra of Ft. Worth; daughters, Debbie Dailey and life partner, James Curvan of Terrell and Jan Carter of Dallas; sister, Bobbie Dailey of Edgewood; grandchildren, Lindsey Johnson, Sarah Dailey, Macky Dailey, Gunnar Dailey, Presley Dailey, Marissa Dailey, Nicole McClendon, Ricky Carter, Kyle Carter, Genet Carter Watts, Debbie Valentine, Randy Lee and Alan Shoemake; fourteen great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Saturday evening 6:00-8:00 PM, at the funeral home in Wills Point.