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John Havens was born in Globe, Arizona and grew up in Gallup, New Mexico. His mother Beatrice Havens was a teacher and administrator in the Gallup schools. His father O.C. Havens was a businessman and a noted photographer. John graduated from the University of New Mexico with degrees in geology and art. He served aboard an airplane carrier as a Navy photographer during the Korean War.
A hydrologist with United States Geological Survey for nearly 42 years, he had many duties culminating as a Reports Specialist with authorship or co authorship of 35 reports. He received a Superior Service Award from the Department of Interior in 1991. He and his colleagues, family and friends celebrated his 1995 retirement with a picnic in the back yard and in November of that year, a luncheon at Portobello Restaurant in Oklahoma City.
As an artist, John was interested in and tried his hand at several art forms including ceramics, sculpture, serigraphs, acrylic and oil painting, and marble paper. He concentrated on creating watercolors and exhibited as a guest artist at the Penn Square Gallery. He was a member of the Edmond Art Association for many years and participated in its annual shows and activities frequently wining a prize ribbon. John was the “in-house artist” for his music teacher wife during the entirety of her more than 25 years in the classroom. He enjoyed creating a Christmas card for friends and relatives every year. The last Havens original was sent the holiday season of 2019.
John and Judith Marilla Clingo married June 9,1961 in Lovington, New Mexico. Their son was born in Lovington, and their daughter in Carlsbad, New Mexico. They moved to Oklahoma on 1970. They celebrated their 59th anniversary apart because of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Their immediate family is son Patrick Lewis Havens and spouse Danielle Comby, daughter Eleanor Carol Havens and spouse William Blumberg, and granddaughter Marilla Danielle Havens. He is Godparent to cousin Tim Vidal and great nephew Jackson Powers. He has several cousins including Shirley Newcomb of Gallup who considered John her “little brother.”
John and Judy enjoyed trips to National Parks and Monuments in the western United States including Glacier Park, the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Carlsbad Caverns. One of their most memorable park experiences was the celebration, with their family, of their 50th wedding anniversary at Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
In December 2004, they had a long anticipated trip to England for the Christmas Eve celebration of Nine Lessons and Carols at Kings College Chapel in Cambridge. They toured the sights in London spending many hours the V & A museum and the National Gallery. At Westminster Abbey they were fortunate to attend Evensong service.
The Havens family, ardent concertgoers for many years, reveled in performances of the Symphony, Chamber Music In Oklahoma, Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble, and various music festivals. John was a collector and accumulated many recordings, ranging from ragtime to classical, beginning in the days of 45’s and 78’s to cassette tapes and CD’s. His collection of pop sheet music began with songs , from 1900.
John and Judy worshiped at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City for several years. John served as Deacon, sang in the choir and played the carillon on occasion. John was confirmed at All Souls’ Episcopal Church OKC in 2007 where he sang in the choir. Music selected for All Souls’ annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols oftentimes served as inspiration for his Christmas cards.
There will be no funeral service until such time as clergy, choir, family, and friends can gather together in one place. There will be a prayer service of interment attended by the immediate family at All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City
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