John Gauntt

GAUNTT
John Douglas Gauntt, Jr., passed away peacefully on the first day of the new year 2014. Though his will was strong, his heart was weak and his body was tired. John was born March 5, 1928, in Athens, Texas, to John Douglas and Minnie Morgan Gauntt. As legend has it, he came into the world at a whopping 13 pounds, and he continued the next 85 years in the same larger-than-life fashion. Graduating from Athens High School at the age of 16, he studied geology at Texas Tech University, where he met the love of his life, Nita Yardley, on a blind date and married her after only three months. Nita and John celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in March of 2013 in the company of family and friends. John began his career with the Lone Star Gas Company in Dallas, Texas, and continued to work as a respected geologist in the industry up until the time of his death. His work took him from Dallas to Corpus Christi and eventually to San Antonio, where he lived out the last 53 years of his life. Working the majority of that time as an independent geologist, John always said he looked forward to going to work every day. Our family was entertained by tales of characters he met and deals that were sealed with a handshake back in the early days of the great Texas oil boom. John had a love of nature that no doubt began as a young boy while fishing the Cutoff with his father in Athens, Texas. He enjoyed any sport which would take him outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, golf, tennis or water sports on his beloved Lake McQueeney. He invested countless hours pulling his grandkids around the lake behind a ski boat and was called in for an occasional rescue from an overturned jet ski. What people may remember most about John was his love of music. Though he had very little formal training, he could pick up his trumpet and play along to virtually any song. Perhaps you had the pleasure of hearing him if you ever danced to polka music at Wurstfest, sweated out a 4th of July concert at the town square in Boerne or took your kids to the Shrine Circus. Possessing a beautiful baritone voice, he was often called on to sing solos at his church or with one of his many bands, much to the joy of his listeners. A man of great faith, he was a longtime member and deacon at Trinity Baptist Church and later, a founding member, deacon and elder at the Fellowship of San Antonio. Preceded in death by his parents and son Kenneth Douglas, he is survived by his wife Nita, son Michael and wife Kim, daughter Linda Greendyke and husband Bill, son Chad and wife Monica, nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, sister Margaret Foman, and brother R. L. Gauntt. We all expect to be welcomed into Heaven one day amid the music of choir and orchestra, with John smiling down on us from the brass section. We would like to thank Vitas Hospice and Dr. Cheryl Mueller for the care they provided during the final days of John's journey.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
SUNDAY
JANUARY 5, 2014
2:00 P.M.
FELLOWSHIP OF SAN ANTONIO
23755 CANYON GOLF ROAD

A private graveside service will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Music Ministry at Fellowship of San Antonio, 23755 Canyon Golf Road, San Antonio, Texas 78258.

You are invited to sign
the Guestbook at
www.porterloring.com

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