It is with deep sadness that the family of Vernon Lavel Burgess announces his passing on February 15th, 2024, of natural causes.

Vern was born on August 1st, 1950, to Vernon and Dorthey Burgess in Salt Lake City Utah.

In 1968, Vern acquired a spinal cord injury while golfing. Vern eventually embraced his life with a disability and dedicated his life to helping others with a disability to accept themselves and find joy through adaptive recreation.

Vern worked for many years at the Internal Revenue Service. While at the IRS, he received the Sandra Brown Thatcher Award for helping people with disabilities.

He also worked for years at Roads to Independence, a non-profit organization that provides services to people with disabilities. At Roads to Independence, Vern oversaw the community recreation program. Through his work at Roads, Vern brought access to recreational activities to countless people with disabilities throughout Ogden and across the state of Utah. He loved this job and was highly dedicated to bringing new experiences and opportunities to others. He had a great talent for connecting with people. He was so good at reaching out and inviting people into his circle. Vern was most happy when he was able to see people having a good time and building relationships through recreation.

Vern loved to be outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and car enthusiast. He loved collecting and restoring vintage cars. His yard was overflowing with the evidence of his hobbies. He especially enjoyed working on cars or talking about cars with his friends.

Vern was enthusiastic about all types of wheelchair sports, including road racing, basketball, baseball, and bowling. While Vern loved to experience these activities himself, his greater passion was in bringing others into these sports. Vern paved the way for many wheelchair athletes in Utah through his drive and determination to create opportunities and access to wheelchair sports. He created the non-profit organization Wheelchair Athletes of Utah. In the 1980s, to raise awareness about wheelchair sports, Vern, his brother Tim, and two team members pushed in their wheelchairs, the entire length of the state of Utah.

Wheelchair basketball was one of Vern's greatest loves. For so many years he dedicated his time and energy to building and coordinating teams in Ogden. He started the Ogden Outlaws and Wheelin' Wildcats, a team that is still strong today. He spent time fundraising, working on ball chairs, coordinating gym time, organizing exhibition games, and planning tournaments. He thought about the team constantly. It wasn't the overall success of the team that drove his efforts. It's the individuals he brought together, the relationships that were forged, and the opportunity for people who participated to be part of something special. People who played on the wheelchair basketball teams became family members to Vern.

Vern had a warm and charismatic personality. He made a big impact on everyone he met. He had a way of charming people and pulling them in through his big personality and unique sense of humor.

Vern had a close connection with his nephew Timmy, who was dedicated to assisting in Vern's care as his health declined.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Dorthey Burgess, Grandmother Carla Eitner, and siblings Carla and Walter Burgess, Barabra and niece Brandee Pritchard, nephew Johnathan, and niece Chrissa Burgess.

He is survived by his brother Timothy (Kathy), sister Virginia Burgess, nephews Timmy (Shay), Damion (Julie), and Walter, and nieces Katie, Amy (Lena), Katrina (Nesto) Burgess, Tori Pritchard, and many great nieces and nephews who he loved. Additionally, Vern is survived by his best friend of many years Nick (Kelie) Hess, and close friend Blaine (Andy) Pettingal, and the Ferrin family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Roads to Independence (3355 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 8440) on Saturday, February 24th, from 12:00-2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Roads to Independence for the Wheelin' Wildcats wheelchair basketball team.