John Driskill

John married Wanda Lou Smith at St. John’s Methodist Church in Lubbock, TX on April 3, 1949. Last month they celebrated 64 happy years together.

John started school in Ranger, TX and grew up in Coleman, TX. He graduated from Coleman High School, the same high school from which his mother graduated. He attended Texas Tech University for 4 years and majored in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management.

As a small boy he started delivering newspapers and continued that service even into college. He was Manager and later Owner of a tractor and large equipment dealership in the South Plains of TX. He was enlisted in the United States Navy as a pilot for 4 years during WWII from 1941 – 1945. He was stationed on the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier, preparing to sail towards Japan when Japan surrendered.

John was a member of Hillside Baptist Church and attended Grace Church. He was very active in serving. He taught Sunday School, sponsored Youth Trips to Gloriota, NM, and was ordained as Deacon at First Baptist Church in Littlefield, TX. He also served as Deacon in Ft. Collins and later in Greeley.

He loved to travel as often as possible. The Driskill’s traveled all over the United States including Hawaii as well as trips to the Bahamas’ and Mexico. Many months were enjoyed at Rockport and Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

John had 2 great loves, the Lord and work serving Him. He imprinted in the hearts of each of his daughters, that serving God and the church were the way to a happy life. John’s life was a life of serving others as long as he was physically able. Serving God, travel, and loving his family were his big joys in life. His great love was his wife, Lou, whom he said he KNEW he was going to marry the first time they met. They were married 64 precious years during which he gave her the gifts of love and total loyalty and support. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him.

John was recently heard saying “I want to live as long as I can but I’m NOT afraid to die…. I know where I am going!”

John is survived by his wife Lou (Smith) Driskill of Greeley; daughters Susan Dianne (Jerry) Hester of Brownfield, TX , Elizabeth “Beth” Anne (Andy) Sowders of Northglenn, CO and Rebecca Jan (Doug) Horn of Greeley; sister-in-law Nita Driskill of Dallas TX; grandchildren John Mark (Hillary) Hester, Eric Hester, Melanie Hester, Katie (Joe) Leech, Kara (Travis) Kline, Patrick (Lauren) Driskill, Amanda Rose Horn, Hannah Grace Horn and Natalie Horn; great grandchildren Elisha, Hannah Beth and Leah Hester, Morgan and Taylor Leech, Landon, Evie Grace and Emmett John Driskill and most loved miniature poodle, Annie Oakley. He is also survived by nieces Marsha Edwards and Karen Matthews and cousins Stayton Delleney and Rev. Dick Delleney.

John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert “Bob” Driskill.

Funeral Service will be held Thursday, May 9, at 3:00 p.m. at Hillside Baptist Church. Interment will follow service at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hillside Baptist Church, Grace Church or the Humane Society if anyone wishes in care of Stoddard Funeral Home 3205 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.

Please visit www.stoddardsunset.com to sign online guestbook.