When John Wesley Boney walked into the room, those in his company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who John was and how he impacted those around him. John was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if John wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. John was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.
John was born on June 22, 1965 in Kirkland, Washington, the son of J.D. and Karen Boney. He passed away at his Seattle Residence on May 29, 2016 at the age of 50.
John was raised in Lynnwood and Edmonds, Washington. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew John might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that John was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.
John was raised with three siblings. He had 3 brothers, Steven Boney, Jerry Boney, and his late brother, J.D. Boney II. John was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, John was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served John well in his adult life and, along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew him.
As a young boy, John was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. John was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. John took part in baseball and football. He was a Cub Scout, Figure Eight Junior. In his spare time he liked tinkering with computers, camping, fishing, wood carving, painting, he even built an engine for his father’s Race Car. John's memorable achievements included Honored with is Automotive Master Technician Accreditation, went back to high school to obtain his General Education Degree, Served as the President of the Snoqualmie Tribal Non-Profit Organization, he and his brothers where trained by Tribal Elders to the first fish cooks for Fund Raisers. John had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover.
During his high school years, John responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. He attended Lynnwood High School but obtained his GED at a later time. He was extremely proud of his attendance. He never missed a day of High School. Additionally, he received his first A+. John absorbed as much as he could from all of his teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using his imagination to master his assignments. His favorite class in junior high school was History. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was his English instructor, Mr. Smith, from Lynnwood High School.
John did well in college, as a result of his comfort level with tackling new theories and his love of learning. He worked on his I.T. Computer Accreditation and received his Automotive Master Technician Accreditation from Green River Community College. He also pursued further school, earning his General Education Degree. His favorite courses were Computer Science and English. John loved to help other students. John was very adaptable, a quality that helped him transition from high school to his career with little difficulty. As a result, John's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that he enjoyed virtually every class he took. John was always in quest of new things to learn and experience with a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought him an endless stream of friends, John was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, John was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. He always seemed aware of what was going on with people around him and throughout his life he made many, many friends. While growing up, some of his best friends were Dale Pederson, Peter Farkes, and John Bates. Later in life, he became friends with “Little” John.
John was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide his family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. John was blessed with two children: one son, John Alexander and one daughter, Cheyenne Lynn. John was a lover of animals and cherished his dogs, Rex, King, and Sally. His family was rounded out by several cats.
John was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was an Automotive Mechanic for Ford Company. He was employed for over 20 years at various Ford Dealerships in the area. John was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. John had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. John's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.
Because John loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. His favorite pursuits were carving, painting, auto repair, computers, and Figure 8 Auto Racing. John had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, John's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.
John derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In junior high school, John played football. Recreational sports included Figure 8 Auto Racing, camping, fishing, and wood carving. John was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Top on his list was football.
Throughout his life, John was actively involved in professional and community organizations. He was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, John seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with John usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with him, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the FEAR, AA, and Save the Wolves.
Because John was constantly in the center of things and where the action was, he always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. John's gift of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made him a great asset. John found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable. He adapted and, like everything in his life, made it satisfying. John was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, most recently he found a new pleasure in painting.
He is survived by Mother, Karen; Wife, Cindy; two Brothers, Steven and Jerry; Son, Alex; Daughter, Cheyenne; many loving extended family and friends.
A celebration of John's life will be held at 1PM on Friday, September 9, 2016 at Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills Chapel, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, Washington 98036. Light Refreshments will be served during a time of continued sharing and fellowship following services at Floral Hills Celebration of Life Center.
There was always a certain style and inventiveness to John. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to John Boney for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. John was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones.
Arrangements under the direction of Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills, Lynnwood, WA.
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