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John Lee Siler

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John Siler Obituary

Published by Heritage Funeral Chapel - Peoria on May 23, 2011.

John L. Siler passed away in his sleep on Monday, May 23, 2011. He was born March 24, 1945 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego. After the war, his parents moved back to Kentucky and found their way west to Arizona when John and his brother Thomas were little. They lived in Coolidge, Marana and Tucson. After John's desire to join the military was halted by a fencing foil accident to an eye, he broadened his major to theatre, speech, communications, journalism, and English. He traveled with friends, taught for a year in Huntington Beach and settled in Coolidge where he married, adopted a little girl and started a drama club and Thespian Troupe. He was instrumental in getting the community to support the building of the Coolidge HS Auditorium. After his first marriage ended, he met Kathy while working on a show in Tucson. They dated for two years, married and moved to Payson. After three years of teaching English, his "experimental afternoon drama classes" turned into a full theatre program. John once again led community influence to build a high school auditorium which is still the primary performance venue in Payson. John and Kathy joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church where John first served as a Deacon and then as an Elder and recently as a Sabbath School Bible Teacher. John was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Robert (1995) and Thomas (2010) and his parents, Dallas and Dorothy, in 2000. John is survived by his beloved wife Kathy, loving daughter Candice, five grandchildren, niece Serene (Matthew) Shannon of Ohio, nephews Dallas (LeAnn) Siler and Thomas Evan both of Chandler. John was an influential person positively affecting the lives of many people including many students over the years who gained insight and appreciation for their own abilities. John's Celebration of Life will be Saturday, June 25 at 2:00 pm in the Payson High School Auditorium. A graveside service will be held at Valley ViewCemetery north of Coolidge on Monday, June 27 at 9:00 am. Instead of flowers or plants, please donate to the John L. Siler Memorial Benefit (college scholarship funds) at any Wells Fargo Bank.

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