He was in Yuma, AZ with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for their first ever family reunion.
LaVerne was born in Elmira, NY on November 21, 1930. He was the son of the late Mildred L. (Grinnell) and Charles E. Jennings. He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie J. (Martin) and son, David. He is survived by his 5 children; Deborah, Douglas, Dawn, Duane, and Daniel, as well as siblings; Donald and Margaret Everett Sr.
He was raised as a farmer and pony roadster racer on the Homestead in Daggett, PA and attended Troy High School. He graduated in 1948 from a general studies track.
He returned to Daggett after his 33 year Navy career. In the U.S. Navy, he served as an Electronics Technician, a Winged Air-crewman, and an Aviation Warfare Specialist, deployed on the USS WASP, USS Coral Sea, and USS Kitty Hawk. He was a foreign war veteran and received numerous awards including: Campaign Awards, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Gallantry Cross with Palm, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal With Bronze Star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and was recognized as a Navy pistol sharp shooter. He retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD.