Alexander Michael Vernon Obituary

Hospital Corpsman First Class Petty Officer Fleet Marine Force Alexander Michael Vernon, the Leading Chief Petty Officer for 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, passed away on the afternoon of September 15, 2025, at his home in Jacksonville, NC. Born on June 23, 1990, in Aurora, CO, he was the beloved son of Michael Charles Vernon and Dawn Muske Vernon. HM1 Vernon was a proud graduate of James Madison High School. His dedication to service led him to enlist in the US Navy in August 2008. Throughout his distinguished military career, he served in various capacities, including deployments to Afghanistan and Japan multiple times, and held numerous leadership positions. While serving alongside the Marine Corps, he earned the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist pin, uniquely qualifying across three platforms: Logistic Combat Element, Air Combat Element, and Ground Combat Element. His commitment to excellence was recognized with several awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars. He was an avid animal lover and spent countless years assisting with animal rescues. Although he had a special love for all animals, he had a special place in his heart for his foster kittens. He is survived by his loving wife, Karin Billingsley Vernon; his parents, Michael and Dawn; his sister Emily Coyle and her husband Eric along with their children; his paternal grandparents Charles and Irene Vernon; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Boyd "Bing" and Bea Billingsley; his sister-in-law, Kaitlin Nolen and her husband Joe, along with their child; and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Robert and Lona Muske. His funeral will be 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon, October 5, 2025, in the Chapel of Dial-Murray Funeral Home, Moncks Corner. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:30 PM until the hour of service on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made in Alex's honor to Dial-Murray Funeral Home, 300 W. Main St., Moncks Corner, SC 29461 (843-761-8027). These contributions will be allocated to a charity of the family's choosing at a later date, as the family has not yet designated a recipient for the memorials. HM1 Vernon's legacy of service and dedication will be remembered by all who knew, respected, and loved him.