Vernon Hyliard Sorgee, Jr.
Vernon Hyliard Sorgee, Jr. 81 of Phoenix, Arizona passed away. He was a native of Ranger, Texas where he was born on April 17, 1940. A graduate of the University of Texas, he majored in Physics and then received his Master’s in Civil Engineering in 1977.
Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Hyliard Sorgee Sr. and Effie Mae Sorgee and his sister Gail Glover. He leaves his loving wife, Carol of more than 30 years; daughter Verna Sorgee Rhoades (Dustin); two stepchildren Cliff Mattice (Melissa) and Kathryn Walker (Steve) and eight grandchildren Brisa Rhoades, Samantha Mattice, Spencer Mattice, Paul Walker (Melissa), Ryan Walker (Ruth Ann), Sarah Fullmer (Andrew), Spencer Walker (Brittany), and Kelsey Hyde (Taylor). He has 19 great-grandchildren. Vern will be missed by all for his sense of humor, fun, and adventure.
In his early years, Vern graduated from Polytechnical High School in Fort Worth, Texas and from Arlington State College in 1965. He was a master mechanic who could take cars apart and put them back together effortlessly. He was always a problem solver who enjoyed a challenging math or science problem that led him to get his degree in Physics and to eventually work at NASA.
He worked over 34 years an an environmental engineer in the area of waste management, water quality and remediation of underground storage tanks. He managed wastewater treatment projects at EPA in New Mexico and Oklahoma and was responsible in the development of a sediment survey of the Trinity River for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He specialized in wastewater management while with Brown and Caldwell Consulting Engineers and environmental compliance at Frito-Lay Inc. and Greyhound Lines, Inc. and at various consulting firms. He owned his own company, Southwest Environmental Consultants Inc., for over 20 years.
Vern is most proud of the time spent as Associate Engineer and scientific programmer for a major NASA contractor, Lockheed Electronics Inc. As part of the NASA Program, he was well versed in Fortran IV programming, Univac computers and Calcomp plotters. He was part of the Apollo Program when they landed on the moon in July 1969.
Vern’s gift of humor and his storytelling captivated his family and friends. His favorite pastime included watching movies especially old westerns or Clint Eastwoood. He liked to fish for hours and always asked others to join him. He was a passionate sportsman, a camper and he loved music by Willie Nelson, Bob Marley and The Beach Boys. Most of all he found great joy in helping other people as often as possible.
Vernon spent 1965-1969 in the U.S. Army. In Vietnam he was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion (mechanized), 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning). Lieutenant Sorgee, an operations officer in the ROTC division of the reserve forces office at Army headquarters, was cited for Meritoriuos Service in connection with ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam on July 1968 and November 1968 with Bronze Stars. His other decorations include a Silver Star awarded in April 1968 for Gallantry in Action. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, WPCF and AWWA.
The family will be announcing a memorial service at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona with military honors at a later date. Please visit hansenmortuary.com for online condolences and notification of the service. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the Disabled American Veterans, The Salvation Army or Duet.
While we grieve deeply the loss of your presence in our lives, Vern, we send you our blessing:
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall soft upon your field,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.