Dr. Vern Laing

Dr. Vern Laing

77, of Sherman, Texas

Funeral services for Dr. Vern Odean Laing were held Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at Waldo Funeral Home. Dr. Laing, 77, passed away Monday morning, Dec. 28, 2015, at his residence from natural causes.

Rev. Joe Ed Goolsby of the First Methodist Church of Sherman officiated and military honors were presented by the United States Navy.

Vern was born March 9, 1938, in Van Wert, Ohio, to the late Bruce and Treva (Hertel) Laing. Dr. Laing graduated from the University of Florida School of Medicine in 1964. He completed his internship and first year of residency in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was accepted as a second year resident in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich. Upon completion of his residency, he was accepted as a fellow in the Department of Allergy and Immunology.

While serving in the Navy as a Lt. Commander, he was assigned to Bethesda Medical Center, where he was the only Allergy/Immunologist on staff and consultant on call to The White House.

Vern was a man of many hobbies and interests. He endorsed and loved to watch Florida Gator football and he was an avid sportsman, passionate of the outdoors and the wilderness. He was a certified pilot and Senior Medical Examiner for the FAA. He met many friends through aviation by testing and renewing annual medical exams for pilots.

Throughout his life, Vern was passionately involved in hunting, fishing, ranching, horse racing and the cowboy way, including many friends who were members of the PRCA. He loved and he always cheered for his beloved Dallas Cowboys. Vern was also a poker player. He studied the game relentlessly. He won the Red River Poker Tournament at Winstar Casino and was very proud. He played in numerous poker tournaments, including the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he cherished the many friendships with the other players who knew him as Dr. V.O.

Dr. Laing was a true people person. He valued the relationships he had with his family, his patients and the many friends he made along the way. He always went out of his way to make those around him feel comfortable. He enjoyed conversing with those from all backgrounds; he never met a stranger. He will be dearly missed.

Dr. Laing is survived by his wife Olga (Torres) Laing of Sherman, Texas; three daughters, Laura Laing Gordon of Aiken, S.C., Libby Waddel and her husband Wes of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Lydia Laing of Coppell, Texas; his only son Bruce Laing and his wife Kelley of Grapevine, Texas; seven grandchildren, Molly Gordon, Madeline and Macie Waddell, Ryan and Emily Hockemeyer and Kylie and Hannah Moreland; two surviving sisters, Dorothy Harris of Orlanda, Fla., and Gerry Fennessey and husband Tom of Libby; five nephews, Kevin, Scott and Brian Laing, Bruce Harris and Tim and Terry Fennessey; nieces include Tracy Kristovich, Tammy Marsden and Sarah Overmeyer.

The family received friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at Waldo Funeral Home. The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.aspx.