John Morgan Haning

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of John Morgan Haning. John died on September 8, 2026 of an aggressive form of clear cell renal cancer which was diagnosed on December 24th, 2025. He faced this terminal diagnosis with courage beyond belief. He always focused on what he could control as opposed to what he couldn't. To anyone who asked how he was doing, he would always answer "hanging in there".

John was born in Riverside California to Zerne and Elizabeth Haning, and grew up in San Mateo, California . John’s family included two sisters and a brother and many cats along the way, so his love for animals began at an early age. He had a group of neighborhood friends growing up, many that have remained life long friends although they live far apart. In addition to playing sports-- baseball and soccer, John began his lifelong love of music by age 8, when he began to play the drums. He continued playing and studying music through high school and beyond.

He graduated from Crystal Springs Uplands High School in 1987 and started college at the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California. In 1988 he moved south to Hollywood to study at the Musicians Institute of Technology specializing in DIT (Drummer Institute of Technology) where he excelled and graduated in 1989. He then played and recorded with many bands, his favorite being a group called Driftwood. This is also where he met the love of his life, Caryn Spencer, in 1990. He continued to perform around Hollywood by night and started working as a pool technician by day and loved doing both. In 1999 he and Caryn moved to Texas where Caryn’s family live. John returned to school in 2002 and proudly graduated from UT Austin in 2004 with a BA in Communication. His lifelong love of the Longhorns began and continued throughout his life.

John worked for a while at the Westlake Animal Hospital where Caryn worked for 23 years. His love of animals continued as he and Caryn had many dogs and cats along the way. They both volunteered at Pug Rescue for many year and fostered and adopted many pugs along the way. Having pugs was quite a change because they previously had labrador retrievers. However, they were never without cats in their home. John continued in the pool industry and eventually formed his own company and all his clients absolutely loved him. John loved he outdoors and when not working he loved camping, tubing on the San Marcos river and traveling in their RV.

He is survived by his beloved wife Caryn Spencer, parents Zerne and Elizabeth Haning, sister Sarah Garbarino (husband Gary) Nieces Sonya Ables (husband Michael) Emily Garbarino, Shelby Terry. Nephews Ben and Josh Garbarino, Daniel Weishaar, Aunts Emily Hewetson, Ruth Morgan and Dorothy Simanek. Cousins Christina Hewetson - Blome (husband Bill), David Hewetson, Jennifer Morgan, Andy Morgan (wife Christy), Ross and Mark Gudnason, Michael Simanek (Trisha) Elizabeth Thompson, Dorothy Simanek, Sisters-in-law Sheryl Honeycutt (husband Mike (coach) and Kim Terry. John was preceded in death by his brother David Bradbury Haning and sister Susan Haning.

Our heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family who provided such an abundance of aid and comfort during the past months. We are eternally grateful for your generous support.

In lieu of flowers we are asking for donation to Pug Rescue of Austin. [https://austinpugrescue.com].

Live streaming will start at 10:45 AM. Please follow the link below;

https://www.youtube.com/live/Y02hDdgFsqM

A Memorial Service will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752, US, on September 19, 2026, from 11:00 am. Service will be followed by light refreshments.