John Apperson

After nearly five years battling cancer, never once complaining, John passed away on September 25 at his home in Bend, Oregon.



Born in Bakersfield, California, John attended North High School, where he set records playing football and was inducted into the North High Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year. At Bakersfield Junior College, John excelled on the football specialty team, earning a scholarship to the University of Nevada in Las Vegas in 1969, where along with 14 other players, he became a member of the university’s inaugural football team. At UNLV, John earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree, and went on to become a teacher at Clark High School, coaching football, baseball, and gymnastics. He continued his teaching career at the Valley High School Magnet Program for Travel & Tourism until his retirement in 2001.

In 2002, John and his wife, Carolyn, moved to Bend, Oregon, to spend time pursuing his other passions: fishing and finish carpentry. John’s fishing buddies credit him with giving them a new appreciation for patience, and he will forever be admired for his ability to design, construct, or remodel anything his wife could imagine. As a friend said, John is more handy than a pocket on a shirt.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Del and Connie, and brother, Tom, and is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Carolyn.

In lieu of a service, John will be remembered at one of his favorite lakes at a date not yet determined. Donations in John’s honor can be made to the Humane Society of Central Oregon at www.hsco.org. He will be greatly missed, and he will never be forgotten.