Vernon Walter Schoemaker, age 95, passed away on December 1, 2023, at his home in Irving, Texas, surrounded by his loving family and under the gentle care of VITAS Healthcare (hospice). Vernon was born in Scotia, Nebraska, to Walter Arthur Schoemaker and Elsie Christine Hermsmeyer Schoemaker. He was the second eldest of eight childrenVerneice (John), Vernon (Barbara), Wayne (Gloria), Willis (Sally), Eleanor (Bernie), Ellen (Floyd), Darlene (Don), and Daryl (Rita). Vernon served in the United States Navy in occupation forces after World War II. After he left military service, he married Barbara Jean Trafton in July of 1950, in Mankato, Minnesota. They made their first home in Amarillo, Texas, where Vernon sold used cars for his uncle, Omar Hermsmeyer. Barbara and Vernon had three childrenDavid (Dyanna Brown), Douglas (Martha Salinas), and Debbie (Joe Ezzell), eight grandchildrenJereme Schoemaker (Deirdre), Joshua Schoemaker (Kim), Jonathan Schoemaker (Nicole), Joe Ezzell (MacKenzie), Jeffrey Schoemaker, Lindsey Ezzell (Cade Simpson), Jacob Ezzell (Kelci), and James Schoemaker, and thirteen great-grandchildrenTaylor Schoemaker, Ethan Schoemaker, Trinity Schoemaker, Kenzie Schoemaker, Van Schoemaker, Liam Schoemaker, Cooper Simpson, Camden Simpson, Lumi Ezzell, Evelyn Schoemaker, Nevina Schoemaker, Joe Woodard Ezzell III, and Gunnar Ezzell. Vernon and Barbara moved to Irving, Texas, in 1968 to open Toyota of Irving, which remains a family-owned business to this day. In the beginning, the dealership had a good month when they sold thirty cars. By 1979, they were selling up to seventy cars a month. The business continued to thrive, and a new, state-of-the art building opened on Airport Freeway in 2015. The success of the business was largely due to Vernons keen business acumen and his incredible work ethiche was known to work up to sixteen hours a day at "the store," as he called it. Vernon and Barbara recently celebrated their 73rd anniversary, another amazing accomplishment. Vernon was a member of the Irving Noon-Day Lions Club and Plymouth Park Baptist Church, and he was an avid hunter who continued to hunt into his nineties. Even though he struggled with congestive heart failure for several years, he fought hard and never gave up until his body failed him. Visitation will be held at the Colonial Funeral Home in Irving on December 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on December 13th at Plymouth Park Baptist Church. The family will host a reception at the Las Colinas Country Club immediately following the service. Burial will take place at a future date at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donations to one of the following in Vernons name: To make a memorial gift to AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, go to the following online donation page: https://pages.heart.org/heartsem_v1/?fe554144=03ecc688a3c5&id-param=sem_honmem In the "Dedicate this donation" line, insert Vernon Schoemaker. To make a memorial gift, go to the LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, go to the following online donation page: https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/donate?utm_source=LCIF_Recognitions?utm_medium=memorial-donation-link?utm_campaign=landing-page Click on "Empowering Service Fund" and follow the steps. At step 3, click on "Non Member" and fill out your information. At step 4, open the pull-down menu and click on "Yes, for a memorial" and type in "Recipients Name"- Vernon Schoemaker. Fill in the rest per the directions shown. If you prefer to give by check and mail, you can send your donation to: Irving Noon Day Lions Club ~ PO Box 170123 ~ Irving, TX 75017 Photo Album Visitation Tuesday, December 12, 2023 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Colonial Funeral Home 606 West Airport Freeway Irving, TX 75062 Funeral Service Wednesday, December 13, 2023 11:00 AM Plymouth Park Baptist Church 1714 N. Story Road Irving, TX 75061