John Garner

John Robert Garner passed away the morning of Oct. 30, 2014, at 87 years old.

He was born on March 12, 1927, in Gary, Ind. He moved to Torrance, Calif., with his parents, Catharine and John Garner, in 1936.

Before graduation, at the age of 17, John enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force as an Air Cadet. He served in a reserve status until his graduation in 1945. After graduating from Torrance High School in June 1945, he was called to active duty and went to Keesler Field, in Biloxi, Miss., for basic training. He attended Long Beach Army Air Field to become a Flight Traffic Clerk on C-47 and C-54 aircraft.

While working in Long Beach, he took part in the Berlin Airlift in 1948. He considered this quite an honor.

In 1951, he went to Mountain Home AFB and met his future wife at a party. They corresponded while he was stationed in San Diego, Calif., to perform recruiting duty for the U.S. Air Force.

On Jan. 19, 1952, Peggy Louise Hugg and John Garner took their marriage vows. They went to many military assignments together, separated only when he went to Pakistan for a long 18 months. They were married for 62 years.

They have been blessed with three children, Catharine, Scott and Joseph.

John retired from the Air Force in 1965. The family moved to Mountain Home where he worked for the civil service at the DRMO on the base. He retired from civil service in 1989.

John held many positions throughout his career in the Air Force and led a very interesting life.

John was very proud of his involvement in the Masonic organization, having been an active member for 46 years. In March of 1968, he joined the Elmore Masonic Lodge #30. His Masonic history follows below:

Raised a Master Mason in Elmore Lodge # 30 on March 27, 1968; Royal Arch Spring Festival 1969; Select Master Spring Festival 1969; Templar Spring Festival 1969; El Korah Shrine June 1969 became a Shriner; Past Master Elmore 1972 & 1989; Illustrious Master Mountain Home Council UD 1994, transferred to Boise council 1995 when UD closed; District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) 1973/74 and 1990/91; Appointed Excellent Grand Historian Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons 1999; Appointed ISH SODI (DDGM) Grand Council R&SM 2000; Joined Red Cross of Constantine 1994 Elected Puissant Sovereign for the year of 2002. Elected Treasurer 2004; Emminent Commander Twin Falls ID #10 2003; Appointed Grand Representative for Grand Royal Arch Indiana near Idaho 1989; Appointed Grand Representative for all three Grand York Rite Bodies in Oregon near Idaho 2002; Commander Knights Templar 2003; Received Knight York Cross of Honor April 2004; Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor April 2005; Elected Grand Recorder/Treasurer, Grand Council Royal and Select Masters for year 2005/2006; Mason of the year from Grand Council 2006; Bestowed the honor of the Red Hat in connection with the Scottish Rite July 2011; and Knights Commander of the Court of Honor in the Scottish Rite of the Masonic Lodge July 2011.

He will meet his father, John Rial, mother Catharine and his brother, Bill Garner, in Heaven above.

John is survived by his wife, Peggy Garner, daughter Cathy (Rich) Berglund, grandchildren Heather (Ben) Echevarria, great-granddaughter Lacey Walker, great-granddaughter Whitnee Echevarria, granddaughter Lisa (Scott) Bushong, grandson Robby Hering, his son, Scott (Nikki) Garner, and granddaughter Chelsea (Jarrod) Henning, son Joseph (Monica) Garner, grandson Mitch Garner and granddaughter Alexis Garner.

A memorial service will be held at Elmore Masonic Lodge #30 in Mountain Home on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name may be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Fairfax Rd. at Virginia Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.