Vernon Walter Schoemaker, aged 95, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2023, at his home in Irving, surrounded by his loving family and under the gentle care of VITAS Healthcare (hospice).
Born in Scotia, Nebraska, to Walter Arthur Schoemaker and Elsie Christine Hermsmeyer Schoemaker, Vernon was the second eldest of eight children. After serving in the United States Navy in occupation forces post-World War II, he married Barbara Jean Trafton in July of 1950 in Mankato, Minnesota. The couple made their first home in Amarillo, Texas.
Vernon and Barbara had three children, David, Douglas, and Debbie, along with eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
In 1968, the couple moved to Irving, Texas, where they opened Toyota of Irving, a family-owned business that remains successful to this day. Starting with modest sales of thirty cars a month, the dealership thrived under Vernon's keen business acumen, eventually selling up to seventy cars a month by 1979. In 2015, a new, state-of-the-art building opened on Airport Freeway.
Known for his incredible work ethic, Vernon worked up to sixteen hours a day, contributing significantly to the success of the business. Recently celebrating their 73rd anniversary, Vernon and Barbara Schoemaker created a lasting legacy.
Vernon Schoemaker was an active member of the Irving Noon-Day Lion’s Club and Plymouth Park Baptist Church. Despite struggling with congestive heart failure, he continued his passion for hunting into his nineties, showcasing his resilience and determination.
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 is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 13th at Plymouth Park Baptist Church, followed by a reception at the Las Colinas Country Club. Burial will take place at a later date at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Vernon’s name to the American Heart Association or the Irving Noon-Day Lions Club.
