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John Lackey, 69, died Friday, August 22, 2003, at his home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday at Union Cemetery.
He was born March 26, 1934, in Lone Oak/Hartshorne, Oklahoma to Henry and Oney Lackey. He was the youngest of ten children. He came to California in 1938 at the age of 4 with his family.
John attended Mountain View Grammar School, graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1952 and Bakersfield Junior College in 1954. He joined the Army in 1956 and served in the Korean War.
After his discharge he married Ruth Smithson in 1959 and together they raised 4 children. The family moved from Bakersfield to Walnut Creek, California, where he was an award winning salesman with one of the nation's top moving and storage firms. Due to poor health he was forced to leave this employment and he returned to Bakersfield with his family.
In his lifetime John had many pleasurable pursuits. While in high school he played tennis and won the Kern County Tennis Championship. He also enjoyed table tennis. His 1955 Buick Century was a source of great pride.
John was an avid inventor most of his life. He invented the Whipper Snapper, Quick Key, Brandem, Weather Witch and the Fly Popper. He had such a creative mind.
Much later in his life, after retiring, John was considered the "king of yard sales." He got great deals and often said he regretted the things he didn't buy and not the stuff he did. He was great at fixing just about anything and he had a genius mind. He loved gadgets with lights and if it had sound and motion, too, it was all the better to him. They have a house and yard full of things lit this to prove it. His back yard became a show place as a result of his imagination and ingenuity.
One of John's passions was music. He loved to sing and play the piano.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth. She was his loyal support and mainstay throughout his life. He leaves his children, son Jeffrey of Grants Pass, Oregon; daughter, Kathy Boles and family of Keizer, Oregon, Maroia Phillips and family of Bakersfield, Danny Lackey and family of Bakersfield.
He is survived by brothers, Arle Lackey and Howard Lackey; sisters, Ruth Dailey and Grace Trueblood, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Clifton, James and Lois Lackey and sisters, Lucille Horner and Arlene Sullivan.
John will be dearly missed by his family and relatives.
Kern River Family Mortuary
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