VERNER MAGNUSON
11/17/1939 - 03/06/2023
Verner Harold Magnuson passed away peacefully on March 6, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. Vern is survived by his children,
V. Hill Magnuson and wife Karen, Suzanne McGarey and husband Patrick, Alexandra Deignan and husband Kevin, Catherine Cullwell and husband Todd, and John Foster. He is predeceased by his wife, Barbara “Lainey” (MacInerney) Magnuson (1992), second wife, Carolyn (Foster) Magnuson (2015), and hunting dogs, Lord Chesterfield (1995), Blackwater Jack (2005), and Max the Wonder Dog (2018). Among his many admirers are his sister Donna (Magnuson) Smith and husband Jim, grandchildren Chase Magnuson, Mason Magnuson, Elaine Deignan, Keira Deignan, Scarlett Hauck, Cooper Hauck, Brianna Foster and Shelby Foster, great-grandsons Olin and Zaiden, and forever fraternity brother Clay “Sonny” Moore. He will no doubt be missed by many more family and friends that hail from New Sweden, Texas, where the Magnuson family originally settled, and Miami, Florida, where the
Hill family cousins reside.
Born in Austin, Texas, on November 17, 1939, “Butch” (as he was known early on) was the first born to Vern and Doris (Hill) Magnuson. He grew up in Tom Sawyer fashion in the Texas hill country where his large family taught him to be adventurous, sporting and self-reliant. He moved with his family to Corpus Christi where he completed high school at W. B. Ray High School (1957), followed by college at the University of Houston, Go Cougars! Vern launched an interesting career in the earliest days of radio, television and film, including working as a newspaper reporter, television camera man and roving TV reporter.
In 1965, he married the first love of his life Lainey, and together they moved to the east coast as Vern established his network TV career as a writer and director, manning his own 8mm reel-to-reel camera and film editing. He worked with industry greats such as Walter Cronkite, Mr. Rogers and Houston’s own Marvin Zindler. His entrepreneurial skills inspired him to start his own firm, VHM Films, from which he attracted corporate clients communicating investment strategies in far flung and exotic locations across the globe, including Africa, Indonesia, Turkey and
Yemen. He had an instinct for a good story and followed his passions, producing documentaries for the United Way Annual Giving Campaign (winning a national PRSA Anvil award in NYC), Roberto Clemente, and the plight of flamingos in the Houston
Zoo.
After Lainey’s passing, he met the second love of his life Carolyn (Foster) Magnuson and they married in 1994. Together they built Granite Ridge, a ranch on a hill overlooking the banks of the Llano River where they spent many happy years in retirement tending to cactus, local wildlife and grandkids. The ranch still provides a sanctuary for his magnificent longhorns (Cisco, Poncho and Zoro).
The family would like to thank the staff at Houston
Hospice for their warm and attentive support to Vern during his final days, as they did previously for Carolyn. We also extend our gratitude to the welcoming and funloving staff at Brazos Towers at Bayou Manor where Vern resided.
Per his wishes, in lieu of a public funeral, the family will gather for a private celebration. Memorial donations may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030. Condolences may be offered at www.millerfuneral.com