John Gary Sheley

Rev. John Gary Sheley was born in Peoria, Illinois May 6, 1932. He was greeted by his parents, John James Sheley and Verna Gauwitz Sheley and two older sisters. Alan joined the family eight years later. His schooling began at Gardner Grade School and continued on through Woodruff High School all in Peoria, Illinois. He then went to Bob Jones University. He finished his College work at Grace College in Winona, Indiana and continued at Grace Seminary to prepare for Pastoral work. During college he met and married the mother of their four children. His first church to pastor was in Indiana, after which he took a church in Benson, Illinois, very near Peoria. After Benson he served churches in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Silt, Colorado and churches in Tucson, AZ, after moving there in 1963. He became an Army Chaplain in April, 1967. After completing Chaplain School, at Fort Hamilton, NY and served in Vietnam and Korea as well as the U.S.. He was honorably discharged March 1973. During his Army years, he earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal/4 Bronz Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal/60 devices, Bronz Star Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. After the Army he attended classes for training in counseling in Mentone, CA, where he also served a church as Associate Pastor. Returning to Tucson in 1989, he became Pastor at Tanque Verde Baptist Church for 14 years. During 10 of those years he also worked for the State of AZ as a counselor with Veterans. After retiring from Tanque Verde Church he became a Crossing Guard for Tucson School District. After the death of his wife, Almeta, he met Barbara who lived very near his duty corner. His job was to watch children across the street. It appears he was doing some "Women Watching" also. Barbara learned he was a woodworker and asked if he could put new casters on an old table she had purchased. He did and then invited Barbara for dinner. The story for all this developed among friends that he had to fix the table to get money for dinner. Barbara's story is that he was a pick-up off the corner. John and Barbara were married February 16, 2008. He retired from Crossing Guard in May 2009. He did his last Pastoral work at the Forum care facility as a Volunteer doing a Sunday morning worship service until July 7, 2013. He continued in fair health until August 6, 2013. After being in the VA Hospital emergency room 14 hours we learned his cancer had spread into his stomach. He was admitted to Home Hospice Care immediately. His condition worsened rapidly within 24 hours. He told Barb he was "waiting for his Lord" and asked for the two pastors (Methodist and Baptist) whose churches we had been involved in, and also two couples we were close to, to be called. He died August 12, 2013 at 8:37 AM. Some things he enjoyed were - as a child, playing games, as an adult, being a Pastor, doing wood work, eating - it is ironic his final health problem was stomach cancer - He enjoyed road trips and thoroughly enjoyed a train trip to Buffalo, NY to visit friends in 2012. He also enjoyed our "walking" in Target and going to Dunkin Doughnuts for Dunkaccino (half coffee and half milk). He was an avid Bowler for many years and was able to bowl the week before his final days of illness. He is survived by a sisters, Joan Robison, of Roanoke, Ill., and Rita Gail Thrush of Newark, CA and a brother, Alan in Backus, Minnesota. He is also survived by three of his four children. Cindy Thompson of La Mesa, CA, Diane West of Marana, AZ and Mark Sheley, of Murrieta, CA. There are 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren are adding up fast. A son, John Gary Sheley, Jr, preceded his father in death in 1995. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 2:00 PM, at Craycroft Baptist Church, 5729 E. 22nd St., Tucson, AZ. Any memorials people wish to give should be given to Heartland Hospice Care, 3112 N. Swan Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712.