Daniel Dustin Vernassie

Daniel (Danny) Dustin Vernassie, age 47. 

March 21, 1977 – August 10, 2024.

Danny was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Sharon Dalton and lived his entire life in Kansas City. Danny grew up in south KC, attending school in the Center School District and the Blue Valley School District. Danny enjoyed playing baseball through grade school and high school, working part-time jobs and spending time with his parents, his dogs and extended family. Danny enjoyed people and never met a stranger. He enjoyed time watching movies with his grandmother … watching and re-watching The Godfather series never got old for him. He really enjoyed music and sometimes sang along for fun with his dad’s band. He loved good food, the KC Chiefs and had a wonderful way with people that made him a natural in sales and the service/hospitality industry. Tragically, as an adult Danny was a lost soul, always searching for ‘something’ and that searching led him to a life of drug addition, homelessness and eventually his death at the hands of another. Danny fought his demons for many years, so positive that he could beat them. Danny’s family remembers him for his kind heart, sense of humor, his good natured naivete’ and his love of family. He so enjoyed family gatherings! Hisyounger cousins remember him as the “older, cool cousin,” spending time together as kids. We believe that Danny is now at peace, reunited with family and friends who passed before him. During rehab, Danny developed a relationship with his God who we know welcomed him home with open arms: Psalm 34: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. And we are certain that Danny heard his mom say, one more time, “Here’s my boy.” Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Sharon Dalton Vernassie and Terry Vernassie, his maternal grandparents, Darlene and Dusty Dalton, his maternal great-grandmother, Sylvia McDaniel, and a host of other relatives. Danny is survived by his aunts, Susan Dalton, Shannon Dalton Bukaty and Marsha (Ken) McBratney, cousins Chris McBratney & his family, Kt McBratney and her family, and Connor McBratney and his family, cousins Nicholas Dalton Bukaty and Emily Bukaty, 6 second cousins including 3 little ones that he never had the chance to meet

A memorial service will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Arno Park (Arno Road/69 th & Ward Parkway) where Danny spent many carefree hours as a child, living, laughing, and loving life.

We ask that you please wear your KC Chiefs attire to celebrate Danny’s love for the home team. In memory of Danny, the family asks that you hug your loved ones extra long and hard, never knowing when you will have that chance again.