Vernon L. Quail, age 84, of Brookings, died Friday, December 24, 2010, at the Brookings Hospital. Visitations will be from 5-8 P.M. Tuesday, December 28, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. No services are planned.

Vernon Leonard Quail was born March 2, 1926, at Bemis, South Dakota, to Carl and Dora (Koppelman) Quail. He was raised in Iroquois and Brookings. He graduated from Brookings High School in 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy the same year. He was stationed at Farrogutt, Idaho, and worked as a radio operator. After his discharge he returned to Brookings and worked at the Farmers Co-op.

On September 24, 1948, Vernon married Phyllis Jean Thode in Brookings. They moved to Sinai and lived in the house that Vernons grandfather Ole Quail built. Vernon farmed the Quail Tree Claim quarter which was owned by his parents. While living in Sinai Vernon served on the town council and drove a school bus. He was active in the Quail-Evenson American Legion Post No. 133 and served as Commander in 1955-1956. In 1965 Vernon and Phyllis moved back to Brookings where Vernon worked for Mills Construction.

Vernon played tennis for many years and rode bike. He enjoyed all sports.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, of Brookings; two sons: Daniel (Nancy) Quail of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and David (Zona) Quail of Sinai, South Dakota; a daughter: Deanna (Rory) Pierce, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; two grandchildren: Stacy Sunberg and Shane Quail; three great-grandchildren: Vincent Sunberg, and Ezra and Eben Quail; and a sister, Donna Knoll, of Denver, Colorado.