John K. Fisher

EL DORADO - Fisher, John K., 83, entrepreneur and owner of John K. Fisher Inc. Auto Dealership in El Dorado, died Sunday, June 6, 2004. Memorial services 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at First Presbyterian Church, El Dorado. He was born Dec. 30, 1920 at Topeka, KS, the son of Raymond Earl and Minnie Mae (McCune) Fisher. He came to El Dorado at the age of 2 and spent most of his life here. He attended El Dorado Elementary School, Junior High School and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1938. He graduated from El Dorado Junior College in 1940 and entered the University of Kansas in Lawrence, graduating with a BS Degree in Business. He completed a full year of Graduate work in the Business School at KU in 1947. On Oct. 23, 1943, he married Mary Pauline Feder in El Dorado. Mary preceded him in death on Sept. 4, 1995. During World War II, John enlisted in the US Naval Air Corps and received a commission of Ensign at Pensacola, FL in Oct. 1943. He served as an instructor in twin-engine aircraft at Pensacola and later flew C54's in the Pacific Theatre of operation. In Dec. 1945, he received an Honorable Discharge having attained the rank of Lt. (J.G.). After the war, he worked as an accountant with O.A. Sutton Corp. in Wichita. In 1948 until 1952 he was district manager of the Oldsmobile Division, serving the Western two-thirds of Kansas, while living in El Dorado. He spent a year as a salesman for Wesley Moore Motor Co. in El Dorado and then 2 years as manager of Barr Motor Co. in Larned, KS. In 1955, he purchased Wesley Moore Motor Co. and established John K. Fisher, Inc. as Cadillac and Oldsmobile, which was franchised in El Dorado on Dec. 1 of that year. John built a new building, housing the dealership, in it's present location. He built Car Wash City, a division of John K. Fisher, Inc. in 1969, then acquired the franchise for Buick, Pontiac and G.M.C. Trucks. John completed over 48 years of owning and operating his dealership. John was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he was baptized; a member of Kansas Motor Car Dealers Association; National Automobile Dealers Association and the El Dorado Country Club. Other than his car dealership, John loved to golf, hunt, fish and travel. Those who survive are a daughter, Kay Abernathy; grandchildren, Kevin Crook and Kirstie Towner all of El Dorado; 4 great-grandchildren also survive. He was also preceded in death by his parents; brother, Albert Henry Fisher and sister, Dorothy Ann Gladfelter. Memorials in his name for Butler County Community College Endowment, Salvation Army or March of Dimes Crippled Children Fund may be left or sent to Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado, which is assisting the family with arrangements.