John Robert Calvert
September 27, 1932 — November 15, 2014
John Robert Calvert, 9/27/1932 - 11/15/2014, John Robert Calvert passed quickly and peacefully after a protracted struggle with a stroke in the loving care of the McCall Rehab and Nursing Center, the St. Luke's Hospice Team, and his caring and loving physicians of the Payette Lake Clinics, Dr. Julie Welty, who worked with the family to ensure John of the most comfort possible. Special thanks to St. Luke's, McCall Rehab Center and the Payette Clinics for their care of John and his family during this time. John R. Calvert was born and raised until his early teens in Brooklyn, New York. John recently settled in McCall with his eldest son and daughter in law in November of 2012. After becoming enchanted with the area, the magnificence of "snow that never got dirty" and the wonders of our wildlife here in McCall, John decided to make McCall his final home and last resting place. Never was he so happy than when he made it through his first winter at the age of 80! John's early youth was marked with a fabulous voice which landed him in his local church choir, where his great love for music, especially Jazz and Blues, was born. John used to regale his family with so many fabulous tales of his life and times. it is a privilege to share them with others, so his memory will live on. One of his favorite stories was of taking the subway for a quarter all around New York, as young as age nine, to get to choir, and in summers of taking the train as a boy all the way to Philadelphia to visit relatives. John completed a parochial school education and attended William and Mary College. Prior to obtaining his degree, at approximately age 19, John headed north to Alaska to work the Alaskan pipelines, yet another exciting time in John's vast wealth of life experiences.
John loved the winters and the snow in Alaska and told tales of making his coffee the old fashioned way, just a metal pot and heating his morning brew with an acetylene torch, for that was all the men had to boil their coffee! Upon returning from the pipeline experience, John made his way West, first arriving in Michigan, where he met and married his wife of fifty years, Connye Calvert., and became the proud father of eldest daughter, Christina, followed by his two sons, Michael "RC" and Keith Calvert. After Michigan. the family was off to California when the children were young. John had become fascinated with the automotive industry and carried an immense volume of automotive knowledge, During his travels, at one point in the 70's, John got permission from his devoted wife (since passed) to go work in the "pits" at Indianapolis 500 in Indiana. She lovingly gave her permission for John to follow his dream. John subsequently enjoyed the excitement of working with a pit crew for the next three years at Indy. Upon return, John's career took a dramatic turn when he took up a promising banking position near El Segundo, where t he family lived, with Crocker National Bank, which was subsequently bought out by Wells Fargo Bank, from where John retired as bank president. Having risen through the ranks to commercial loan officer to President, John had achieved the pinnacle of success.
After John's retirement from Wells Fargo, he settled in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife planning a relaxing retirement. However, John was not yet ready for retirement and soon founded a maintenance company which placed bids for maintenance in the Las Vegas school district. Not surprisingly, John's newly formed family owned business was awarded the contract.
Around the same time, it was discovered that John's beloved wife was suffering from breast cancer. John devoted his entire being to his wife, who endured a protracted struggle with breast cancer, only to pass of emphysema. At this time, now the late 1990's. John relocated to Lake Havasu City, AZ and began to live with his sons. While he enjoyed his time in Arizona, his second eldest son relocated to Barstow where John followed.
After five years in Barstow, CA, John became interested in relocating to the McCall area where his eldest son had settled with his wife, and so made a visit to McCall in 2012. He was so enthralled with the area, John decided to make it his permanent residence. He resided first in Timberlost where he grew increasingly closer to wildlife, in particular, the deer, with whom he apparently could speak, and the fox; there seemed to be no animal who did not fall under his charming spell. Subsequently, Johm wanted to "branch out" to his own condo. John was very popular around town and soon took up a part time position at McPaws Thrift Store. John had a lifetime love of animals and was thrilled to be a part of the community at age 81 serving the needs of the McPaws Thrift Store, the final stop in his long and varied career.
John is survived by his son and daughter in law in McCall, RC Calvert and Kathi Fermoyle, also, his loving eldest daughter, Christina, of Eureka, CA and son, Keith, of Barstow, CA. John also is survived by his devoted granddaughter, Jennifer Calvert of MI, and other grandchildren, Damion Calvert, and Melina Calvert. John is also survived by three great grandchildren. John will be greatly missed though his memory will live on, not only by the generosity of spirit and love he showed others, but through the caring he showed by investing his entire life in his family. According to his wishes, no services will be held. May he Rest In Peace.
John loved the winters and the snow in Alaska and told tales of making his coffee the old fashioned way, just a metal pot and heating his morning brew with an acetylene torch, for that was all the men had to boil their coffee! Upon returning from the pipeline experience, John made his way West, first arriving in Michigan, where he met and married his wife of fifty years, Connye Calvert., and became the proud father of eldest daughter, Christina, followed by his two sons, Michael "RC" and Keith Calvert. After Michigan. the family was off to California when the children were young. John had become fascinated with the automotive industry and carried an immense volume of automotive knowledge, During his travels, at one point in the 70's, John got permission from his devoted wife (since passed) to go work in the "pits" at Indianapolis 500 in Indiana. She lovingly gave her permission for John to follow his dream. John subsequently enjoyed the excitement of working with a pit crew for the next three years at Indy. Upon return, John's career took a dramatic turn when he took up a promising banking position near El Segundo, where t he family lived, with Crocker National Bank, which was subsequently bought out by Wells Fargo Bank, from where John retired as bank president. Having risen through the ranks to commercial loan officer to President, John had achieved the pinnacle of success.
After John's retirement from Wells Fargo, he settled in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife planning a relaxing retirement. However, John was not yet ready for retirement and soon founded a maintenance company which placed bids for maintenance in the Las Vegas school district. Not surprisingly, John's newly formed family owned business was awarded the contract.
Around the same time, it was discovered that John's beloved wife was suffering from breast cancer. John devoted his entire being to his wife, who endured a protracted struggle with breast cancer, only to pass of emphysema. At this time, now the late 1990's. John relocated to Lake Havasu City, AZ and began to live with his sons. While he enjoyed his time in Arizona, his second eldest son relocated to Barstow where John followed.
After five years in Barstow, CA, John became interested in relocating to the McCall area where his eldest son had settled with his wife, and so made a visit to McCall in 2012. He was so enthralled with the area, John decided to make it his permanent residence. He resided first in Timberlost where he grew increasingly closer to wildlife, in particular, the deer, with whom he apparently could speak, and the fox; there seemed to be no animal who did not fall under his charming spell. Subsequently, Johm wanted to "branch out" to his own condo. John was very popular around town and soon took up a part time position at McPaws Thrift Store. John had a lifetime love of animals and was thrilled to be a part of the community at age 81 serving the needs of the McPaws Thrift Store, the final stop in his long and varied career.
John is survived by his son and daughter in law in McCall, RC Calvert and Kathi Fermoyle, also, his loving eldest daughter, Christina, of Eureka, CA and son, Keith, of Barstow, CA. John also is survived by his devoted granddaughter, Jennifer Calvert of MI, and other grandchildren, Damion Calvert, and Melina Calvert. John is also survived by three great grandchildren. John will be greatly missed though his memory will live on, not only by the generosity of spirit and love he showed others, but through the caring he showed by investing his entire life in his family. According to his wishes, no services will be held. May he Rest In Peace.
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