Every time I saw my Uncle John was like Christmas. His white beard, overwhelmingly warm energy, big belly, and deep chuckle made me think of him like Santa Clause. He was a great big ball of love to me. He called me "Nicky" and he always had big hugs for me and kisses on the cheek, even sometimes gifts while sitting on his lap. And Santa is a perfect way to remember him as he spent much of his life in service to others. I will always remember my Uncle John with a sense of warm magic, like waking up on Christmas day. 

I have several memories of John but one of my favorite was when  I was 9 or 10, John and Wanda took care of us while Mom and Dad were away and they created the coolest Halloween haunted house and let us have all of our friends over.  They spent a couple days setting it up. 

As we all grew older, I always loved John’s deep laugh and know we  all will miss hearing it as well as his standard send off  of “God Bless”.

God Bless you John !  



Also wanted to share this photo taken in El Paso  in May 2014 when we celebrated Aunt Flo’s life.   In this photo John is surrounded by his siblings and cousins.    💜

John was always a good, "big cousin,".  He was always watching out for us younger guys on our fishing trips and on the various job sites with Grandaddy.
I remember his Cushman (Pullman) post office 3 wheeler that he bought to drive down Alameda to get to UTEP.  He had a contest for we cousins to come up with a poster that would fit into the side ad frame on the cargo box. I think one of the girls came up with a poster with mod designs that said U.S. MALE. That was the winner and it sure fit him being somewhat of a playboy back then😉.  
Roma and I always enjoyed seeing him at holiday dinners and our doggy Angel sure loved seeing him too! He would always slip her some scraps when no one was lookin. We could always tell those two had a thing goin on😁.  
John is surely missed, Thankfully, we all have our fond memories. 
God Bless Dear Johnny!






Such beautiful tributes from Adrienne and Teri - brought back many memories! When I think of what’s most important in ones life - it’s loving the Lord and loving His people. John did both of these and did them so well! He knew what it took to have an intimate relationship with Jesus and practiced this. He spent much of his life loving and caring for family and strangers. He had a big heart that served the Lord and others.  John will be missed by all who knew him. Praying peace, comfort and blessings over John’s family and friends!  With much love, Cecily       ✝️💜✝️

My brother was so sweet to include me in his son's wedding in Seattle years ago and bought me a ticket to meet him and my mother there.  We had so much fun sightseeing in Seattle with Marc and Adrienne.  We had not been close for many of our adult life, living most of my life in San Diego and he in El Paso. I really looked up to him when I was younger and he was the typical big brother both looking after me as big brothers do, protecting the younger siblings, but also terrorizing me with that practical jokes and mischievous sense of humor that he had! One piece of advise Johnny gave me years ago when he borrowed my car in San Diego; he told me “not to keep the radio on in the car all the time," because I wouldn’t be able to hear God when he talks to me!
Rest in peace, brother. And may you have a blessed reunion with our mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles and the all former residents of Sunnyfield Avenue and Riverside Drive.… until we meet again.



Johnny was the eldest of all of us cousins and I always admired how he didn't mind standing out and being different, taking the lead and being strong in his beliefs! Helping others less fortunate although he had his own misfortunes. He and Wanda produced two beautiful children that I enjoyed babysitting while they were out serving 
others. In John's later years it became difficult for him to get around but he always made it to holidays with family and I enjoyed assisting him with his meal making sure he had his favorites on his plate! My condolences to Marcus, Adrienne, Tyler, Ayla and to all of John's siblings. Love to you all! Ellen 

John Washam, our father, had many uncommon qualities that we appreciated and that helped shape the adults we would become. He shared a love of nature by taking us camping several times each year. We bathed in waterfalls, cooked over fragrant campfires, watched the moon rise above the forest canopies, get lost on dirt roads but enjoyed the journey. We fished and ran and played; we slept on the beach. He gave us a love of soccer. Marcus was exceptional, and I could hold my own, and the pursuit of excellence in soccer taught us how to be team players. This translated into fantastic work ethics. Dad was a woodworker and constantly put us to work sanding and refinishing old pieces of furniture. He gardened and grew his own fruits and vegetables. Marcus especially took up this hobby, while I focused on flowers and pruning of my own gardens. When we misbehaved, he would sometimes make us sit with headphones and listen to classical music and then report to him the instruments we identified. This served to focus and calm us and probably gave us a foundation for math. I find classical music soothing and emotionally provocative to this day. Because he was so honest with himself and others about his own weaknesses, he passed on an invaluable skill of self honesty and self reflection. We cannot grow or change into the best people we can be without first viewing ourselves objectively. He apologized when he was wrong, and that taught me how to admit my own mistakes. He bought us our first cars and cried at our weddings. During the last years, he experienced much physical pain, but he told me a few months ago that he had never been happier. Either my brother took very good care of him, taking some of his worries away, or he finally succumbed to that excruciating exercise of letting go. I am glad that he is no longer in pain and that he is at peace. May God rest his soul. Maybe his spirit is flying with the birds or he is playing soccer with the angels...

OBITUARY

Johnny Gene Washam

March 13, 1949 – March 12, 2021

Hillcrest Funeral Home

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