John Richard Creviston Jr.

John Richard Creviston Jr. passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025 in Banning, California at the age of 77 years old after a short battle with cancer. John was born to Emma and John Creviston Sr. in the U.S. Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, PA on October 13, 1947. His family settled in Torrance, CA where he and his younger brother Fred grew up. John had an idyllic childhood finding his passions for fishing, camping, baseball, and surfing. Upon graduating from South High School in 1965, John joined the U.S. Air Force.

While stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM, John met a dark-haired beauty, Shirley McGaw, that changed his life. When John was discharged from the Air Force, Shirley accompanied him home to California where they were married on May 20, 1970. They moved to Cerritos, CA in 1971 where they lived for 32 years. In June of 1973, they were blessed with their one and only daughter, Stacy. John was the best dad, always steadfast in his encouragement, love, and support.

John enjoyed an early retirement from Ralph’s Grocery Company where he was employed for 35 years. John and Shirley then moved to Banning, CA in 2003 where John spent the last 22 years of his life as a part of the Sun Lakes community. John and Shirley enjoyed golfing in the early years, traveling to far away locales with friends, and visiting their daughter and her family in Northern California as often as possible.

John was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He found great joy on his fishing boat with his buddies and was blessed be out on the water up until the last months of his life. His passion for WWII history was inspired by his pride in his father’s service during World War II as a Pearl Harbor survivor. John was extremely handy and could figure out how to fix just about anything, always lending a helping hand to anyone who needed it. John loved 50s and 60s music, classic cars, and had a huge sweet tooth. John could strike up a conversation with anyone, making friends everywhere he went.

John was a devoted family man. John’s grandchildren will always remember the fishing trip he took them each on, how he loved passing out Halloween candy every year to all the kids in their neighborhood, and the countless trips he made to see them over the years. He never hesitated to drive hundreds of miles to be present in their lives for every important occasion and milestone.

John was not only Stacy’s father, but he was her confidante and best friend. She will miss his daily texts and calls letting her know what he was up to and asking about her life. His passing has left a void that will always be felt. But she will always remember his passion for life, the love and joy he shared, how proud he was of his family, and how he always made her feel like the most special girl in the world.

John was a loving and loyal husband and partner to Shirley for more that 54 years. He became her primary caregiver when she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2018 and affectionately cared for her until she passed in April 2024, just 14 months before him. John and Shirley’s daughter will be forever grateful to their guardian angel on earth, Rebecca, who lovingly took care of both her parents in their final days.

John is survived by his daughter Stacy Creviston, son-in-law Michael Fong, grandson Aiden Fong, and granddaughter Rylee Fong; his cousins Nancy Dixon and George Bumgarner; his brother-in-law John McGaw Jr., sister-in-law Sostella McGaw, nieces Patricia Radosevich, Valorie McGaw-Bulger, Kathi McGaw, and Melissa McGaw and countless friends.

John was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Creviston, father John Creviston Sr., mother Emma “Sherry” Creviston, brother Fred Creviston, aunt Elizabeth Dixon, grandfather Ray Creviston, and grandmother Stella Creviston.

A graveside service with military honors for John will be held at Riverside National Cemetery on July 7, 2025 at 11:15am.