John E. Oliver

1940 - 2016

John E. Oliver John E. Oliver, a long time resident of Olympia, died at Providence St. Peter Hospital on June 23, 2016. John was born in Spokane to Helen and Bert Oliver in 1940 and moved to Olympia at the age of two. John graduated from Olympia High School, St Martin's University and Western Washington University. John loved education, he began his 30 year career at North Thurston Public Schools by being a teacher at South Bay Elementary, he then became the first principal at Olympic View Elementary and the first principal at Evergreen Forrest Elementary. His last school with the NTPS was Lacey Elementary in 1992. Thinking he would retire he took a year off and then became the principal at Holy Family School for 8 years. John adored his family, he was introduced to his wife, Anne by his Aunt Marion Monroe who was teaching with Anne in Ferndale, Washington. They were married in 1964 and had five children. His wife died in 2010 and John remarried in 2014 to Joanne Gentry of Olympia. John was a caring, loving man that always put others ahead of himself. He had an amazing voice, he sang with his barbershop group and quartet for over 15 years, and was a cantor at Sacred Heart Church for many years. John is survived by his wife, Joanne; children, MaryHelen (Rex) Munger, Annette (Rainer) Feyrer, John Oliver, Mark Oliver and Greg (Iolanthe) Oliver and a step-daughter, Michelle (Jim) Anderson; three grandchildren, Ryan Feyrer and Joey and Adrianna Oliver; two step-grandchildren, Hannah and Makenzie Anderson; brother, Jim (Cathy) Oliver of Richland; sister, Marion (Dick) Bremer of Bellingham and numerous nieces and nephews. John is preceded in his death by his first wife, Anne Oliver of 46 years and his father and mother, Bert and Helen Oliver. A rosary/viewing will take place at Woodlawn Funeral Home on July 5, between 5:00-7:00 p.m. The funeral will take place on July 6, 2016 at 9:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lacey. There will be a reception following at Hallen Hall.