John Francis Denison Jr.

1929 - 2024

JOHN FRANCIS DENISON JR.

January 5, 1929 – August 11, 2024

John Francis Denison JR., was born on January 5th, 1929 to Hattie Mae and John Francis Denison SR in Council Grove, Kansas. John will be most remembered for his love of being with family and people and sharing stories.

After graduating from Council Grove High School in 1946, John left home at 17 on a train to California. He made a stop in Bakersfield where he stayed for a short time working on a farm owned by the Ricards Family planting Alfalfa in Rosedale. He eventually went to work at the shoe stores owned by the Ricard family in Delano and then Taft.

In 1951 John joined the Army and completed his boot camp at Camp Pendleton. He was then transferred to England where he served our country during the Korean War.

When he first came home from his service Doc Ricards gave him a job back at the family's shoe store where he would eventually meet the love of his life Mary (Martin) Denison.

He came into work one day and there was Mary and her parents getting Mary shoes. He asked her out on a date and 3 months later, February 27th, 1954, they got married in Las Vegas and celebrated one month short of 68 years together before Mary passed away the day after his 93rd birthday.

At some point in time John left the shoe store and went to work for a cotton gin in Arvin. Around 1956 he went to work at Calcot, LTD. where he worked as the Transportation Coordinator for over 37 years. He loved his time at Calcot and made lifetime friendships.

During the time at Calcot John went to college at night and obtained an Associate Degree in Business. He also had his side hustle, candy machines around Bakersfield. Mary and John also purchased her parent's home and land on Breckenridge Rd where he would farm 17 acres of orange trees until he was 93 years old.

The manager of a packing company told John that even though his farm was the smallest farm they picked for, it was the most important because of the way he and Mary treated them over the years.

John and Mary had one son, John F. Denison III. John was the center of their life together. They took lots of family trips together including regular trips back to Kansas to visit his family. He was so proud of John and enjoyed spending time with him and John's wife Darlene and children and grandchildren.

John is survived by his son John (Darlene) Denison III, his grandchildren, Christopher (Danielle Herrerra) Lehr, Danielle Marie Lehr, and John Denison IV. and his great grandchildren Presley and Layla Plotner, and Jackson, Lucas and Savannah Lehr.

He is also survived by his brother Scott (Carolyn) Denison, his nieces Janet (Greg German) DeHart, and Diane Denison, nephews Charles Denison and George (Kathleen) DeHart Jr., and many more nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Mary Denison, and his sister Marge Pritchard.

John Francis Denison Jr. your life was a success story. We all love you, and we will all miss you very much. Rest in peace Dad.

His viewing will be on Wednesday, August 21st from 3pm-6pm at Mission Family Mortuary on California Ave. Funeral services will be Thursday, August 22nd at 10:00 am at Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Reina Rd, followed by a memorial service with military honors at noon at the Bakersfield National Cemetery on Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin. Celebration of Life to follow.

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