John W. Elliott passed on to his heavenly home on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at his home in Yuma, AZ. John was born in 1927 at Gage, Oklahoma to Lincoln and Ruth Elliott. He was the second of nine children. His family moved to Melba, Idaho in 1940 where he continued his education. They then moved to Richmond, California in 1943. John joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 at age 17. John was stationed at San Diego Naval Training Center where he went on to gunnery training school. His first ship was the USS Cape Spencer, a merchant ship. His job was titled, The Armed Guard, as he was a gunner, trained to protect our World War 2 soldiers.
After the war ended, he was assigned to land duty in the Philippines. He also served in China. John was on several different ships but returned back to the states on the USS Wakefield which he laughingly called a luxury liner. After leaving the Navy in 1946, he returned to Melba, Idaho where he reunited with his family. He worked as a farmer, a laborer at Lloyd Lumber Company, and at Maxwell Advertising Company.
In October 1951, John joined the U.S. Air Force. He stationed at McCord Air Force base in Tacoma, Washington where he trained as a medic. He was then stationed at Fortuna, North Dakota (ACW station. He served in several states and in Germany, Italy, and England.
John left the Air Force after 24 years of military service. He went on to work for the California Department of Corrections from which he retired in 1982. He married Erna Gonzalez in 1981 at Carson City, Nevada. They loved to travel and lived in several states until finally settling in Yuma, Arizona where he has lived the last 18 years.
John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Erna Elliott; daughters, Charmian Dunn (Virgil) of Tillamook, OR and Debbie Luther (Ken) of Nampa, ID; son, John Elliott and Bruce Elliott of Lakewood, CO; brothers, Stanley and Lawrence Elliott (Linda) of ID and Mark Elliott of Arvada, CO; sisters of Idaho, Peggy Payne (Gary), Gladys Fisher, Betty Addington, and Alta May Elliott; uncle, Francis Adams; 8 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren with 1 more great-great granddaughter due in a week; and several step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Keith Elliott; grandson, Paul Thomas; and uncle, Pete Adams who passed away February 2014 at age 100.
The family would like to thank the caregivers that cared for John daily and made his last days comfortable at home.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Chapel Service will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2014. at Johnson Mortuary, 1415 S 1st Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364 and followed by Graveside Service at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in the Garden of Meditation. FTD Floral (877) 894-0431.
Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.
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