Johnny Candler

Johnny was born on December 22, 1936, in Bradshaw, West Virginia, to Emory Candler and Orpha Lawson. At the age of 19, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at his first base in Idaho. Johnny moved to Tucson when he was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. While at DM, Johnny met the love of his life, Teresa Basurto, and they married in Tucson in 1972.

You could always find Johnny with a smile on his face and ready to joke with you. In his younger days he was an avid hunter and loved to fish and camp in the White Mountains. He enjoyed playing cards with his long time Air Force buddy Chuck. He attended every sporting event played by his grandsons and proudly cheered them on and never missed a football tailgate. He loved early morning breakfast, especially biscuits and gravy at Cracker Barrel. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and regularly volunteered at church passing out donuts, working the fish fry night, spaghetti dinners and did so for years until his wife became ill, he then never left Teresa’s side.

Johnny is preceded in death by his infant children, Glenda and Darrin, and the love of his life, Teresa.

He will be incredibly missed by his children: Darlene Bigornia, Eileen (Tracy) Peron, Yolanda Nunez, Terry Cañez, and daughter-in-law Sandra Bracamonte (Tony).

Johnny loved his grandchildren immensely: Cameron, Jaxon, Regina, Brian, Samantha, Gilbert, Corrina, Jazcelyn, Gabryelle, and Hope. He adored his great-grandchildren: Desmond, Tayzia, Christopher, Gianna, Paul, Elias, Dominic, and Cruz.

Johnny is survived by his sisters, Lu Heine and Nancy Love, and leaves behind a large extended family of nieces and nephews.

Services for Johnny will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Mass will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m., 300 N Tanque Verde Loop, Tucson, AZ 85748. Burial with military honors will follow at East Lawn Cemetery at 12:30 p.m., 5801 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712.