John Paul Burton

John Paul Burton, love of my life, my best friend, the most amazing, generous, full-of-life, Jesus-loving husband, father, grandfather, son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, cousin, uncle, and friend.

John, 63, of Mossyrock passed away peacefully after a short, aggressive illness on March 7, 2026. He was sad to be leaving us all, but he was not afraid of this moment. He wasn’t excited about it—he didn’t want to leave us—but he wasn’t afraid. He knew he would be with the Lord whom he loved. His life was a reflection of that.

John was known for his generous heart, his love for Jesus, his family and friends, and for his “dad-joke” sense of humor. Everything was funny in his head, and he shared it with us all. John loved people, and he loved well. He was spontaneous and fun, but also incredibly hardworking—a beautiful blend.

If he made you laugh, it was a successful day for him.

When he was younger, he played on church league and community basketball teams, played volleyball, and was always up for a game of bocce.

John was born in Chehalis, Washington, to Charley and Dottie Burton and was raised in Morton, at a place he loved on the river—Bear Canyon. He had four siblings: Lynn, Barb, Howie, and David. He was grateful to have had a close relationship with them all, especially as adults. He grew up fishing barefoot at the river with his dog and later worked in the trees, played basketball, and achieved honors in high school. He loved his family and had a wonderful childhood.

John was the owner of Christmas Hills Tree Farm, but he considered himself simply a farmer. He did not love technology—he couldn’t be bothered. If he had to choose between learning computers or working in the trees, the trees would win every time. He was a pencil-and-paper, down-to-earth kind of guy (thankfully he had great staff to help keep him in the digital age).

He loved land clearing and preparing ground for planting. He loved planting, cultivating trees to make them beautiful, and of course the harvest. John loved his customers and the uniqueness of every nursery and tree lot. The relationships he built with them meant a lot to him. They became more than customers—they became friends.

John believed in volunteering and being present in his community. He gave years of his life serving his church as a board member, worship leader, youth leader, and host of many gatherings and events in our home. Whenever there was a need, John stepped in to help.

He also served on the board of Valley View Health Centers, listening to community needs and helping bring improvements to local healthcare. He participated in the Valley Ag Farm Credit Ag Stewardship Program, which donated thousands of dollars each year. John worked hard to help organizations he believed in apply for support and often presented their work to the committee.

Just this last year, he had the honor of presenting a $50,000 check to the Mossyrock music department, and in a previous year he presented a large grant to the Pope’s Kids Place Foundation. He believed deeply in community and in creating opportunities for children.

Above all, John loved his family and friends deeply. He loved traveling with them and playing games. He loved watching their interests grow and change and hearing about what was coming next in their lives. John lived a life full of adventure and encouraged his children to explore the world around them.

His wife, children, and grandchildren meant everything to him. John and Cheryl shared 41 wonderful years together. They loved traveling with friends, spontaneous trips, playing golf or cards, and quiet evenings watching TV. As long as they were together, it was enough.

John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Cheryl; his children Jenna (Brandon) Simek, Jeremiah (Leslie) Williams, Michelle (Michael) Hammermeister, Andie (Colin) Macdonald, Donovan Burton, Jonathan (Reghan) Burton, Keisha Burton, and Emily Love.

He was also the proud grandfather of 19 grandchildren, whom he adored, ranging in age from 1 to 17: Rhett, Amelia, Skye, Beau, Koltyn, Daliah, Jaxlynn, Kourtney, Koen, Alexandria, Amiah, Conner, Jace, Adelaide, Vivian, Lincoln, Henry, Daisy, and Carmen.

He is also survived by his siblings Lynn, Barb, David, and Howie, numerous nieces and nephews, and his in-laws David and Janet Crook.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dottie and Charley Burton.

His life was a gift to all who knew him, and his love will continue to live on in the family and friends he cherished.

A service celebrating John’s life will be held at Bethel Church, 132 Kirkland Rd, Chehalis, Washington, at 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

There will be an open mic during the dinner following the service for those who would like to share stories and memories of John in an informal and loving atmosphere.