Vern Robert Garvin

Vern Robert Garvin

March 17, 1931-Nov. 18, 2009

Vern was born March 17, 1931, to Doyle and Amanda Garvin in Gold Beach, raised on the Chetco River on his family’s dairy farm and graduated from Brookings-Harbor High School in 1949.

After graduation he worked in the logging industry until 1952 when he was called to serve in the Korean War. 

He then returned to the Brookings area and his logging job until 1955, when he enrolled in Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls.

On June 23, 1956, Vern married Dorothy Rowley.  The following spring they  both earned their associate  degrees at OIT.

The couple returned to Brookings to start their first business, Curry County Communications, which later became Becco, Inc. The business started as a television repair service or anything that needed to be fixed. Vern added two-way radio communications for marine and logging businesses. He later added 24-hour answering service and emergency dispatch. 

In 1960 Vern purchased  KURY Radio with Norm Oberst and brought AM/FM radio signals to Curry County. He moved the 284-ft. tower via helicopter from Oceanview Drive to Dawson Tract. The station was off the air for only five hours.

In 1964 he was granted a cable TV franchise. In 1972 the engineering and building of Skyline Cable commenced.  He installed the first commercial satellite dish west of the Mississippi and brought a wide range of channels to the Southern Oregon coast. In addition he built the systems in Port Orford and Cottage Grove.

In 1987, Vern and his three brothers purchased the McDonough Farm in Sams Valley near Gold Hill. In 1991, Vern and his family purchased the farm from the three brothers and Vern and Dorothy split their time between Brookings and Sams Valley.

Vern, never one to rest on his laurels, decided to plant a vineyard in 1999. He planted 70 acres of fruit. The vineyard provides wine grapes for many wineries in Oregon and fruit for the family’s own label, Cliff Creek Cellars.

Besides keeping busy with all of his business ventures, Vern was an accomplished fixed wing and helicopter pilot since 1957. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Vern and Dorothy traveled extensively throughout the world making many friends.

He was a member of the Brookings Presbyterian Church and served on countless committees. He was Grand Master of Masons in Oregon, 1985-86, and a 50- year member of the Sidney Croft Lodge 206 in Brookings.  He belonged to Royal Arch, Scottish Rite, Hillah Temple of Shriners, Order of Eastern Star, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served on the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce Board and Chetco Federal Credit Union Board. 

Vern was a tireless and nameless supporter of the Brookings-Harbor area, providing sound systems to countless community events.  He brought grand marshalls into the community for the Azalea Festival, including Mickey Mouse. He believed in the education of our youth and established the Garvin Family Masonic Scholarship.   He was a supporter of the Chetco Historical Society Museum and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy Garvin; children Lee Garvin, Roy Garvin and Ruth Garvin; daughter-in-law Cristi Garvin; grandchildren Kelly Garvin, Teri Garvin and Cory Garvin; brothers  Walter and wife Pat Garvin, Glenn Garvin, Richard and   wife Rainie Garvin, and a large extended family including Lorraine Gordon, Jeff Gordon and Jill Gordon.

A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at  Brookings Presbyterian Church, 540 Pacific Ave.

 The family will also host a celebration of life from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at  their home at Sams Valley Vineyard, 1019 McDonough Road, in Gold Hill.

Remembrances may be made, in his name, to Garvin Family Masonic Scholarship Fund, c/o Sidney Croft Lodge, 206, P.O. Box 715, Brookings OR 97415 or Brookings Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 697,Brookings OR 97415.

Submitted by the family.