the Obituary of John D. Pearce

If you needed  a car engine rebuilt, house built,  back hoe or tractor work  or basically any broken thing fixed, JOHNNY PEARCE was the guy that could do it.   

John passed away August 22, 2024 at the age of 82. He died at his residence after  losing the battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

John was born in Earlington Kentucky.  At the age of 8 his father Chuck and mother Mary Lu decided to head West in search of a better life. After moving several times John settled in Weed, CA..  John had one older brother, David, two younger brothers, Bruce and Ron and a sister Pat. 

At the age of 16 John went to work at the mill in Weed. Two years later, having met Shirley Holly, also of Weed, they were married in Reno, NV. It was during this time  that John wanted to build a car transmission. He worked with a local mechanic, for free, beginning his career of mastering the mysteries of anything  mechanical. He developed the desire to understand how things worked. This desire extended itself to anything he wanted to accomplish, such as converting a city bus to a luxurious motor home, restoring a 1967 Austin Healy, building his own home, working cattle or growing alfalfa.

John joined the army and was with the 82 Airborne serving time in Korea.  He received an honorable discharge as Specialist 5.  When asked why Airborne he said because they paid me more to jump out of airplanes. While in the military John and Shirley had a daughter, Wendy.

Upon leaving the service John and Shirley returned to Redding, CA. where John went to work for Cal Fire. He spent 6 years with Cal Fire leaving as a Captain out of the Redding area.

 John was a good money manager and after leaving Cal Fire returned to Yreka and purchased  Yreka Auto Parts. Several years later he also purchased a Motorcycle sales business. By 1982 John sold both businesses and now divorced, met Suzi Starr from Scott Valley, who would be his partner and wife for the remainder of his life.  They were married in 1991. The sale of John’s businesses enabled he and Suzi to enjoy many adventures.. 

Adventures included buying a sailboat ( he had never sailed before) and taking it down the West coast of Baja California, around the tip and up the East side into the Bay of Conception.  John and Suzi spent a lot of winters near Muleje at Sanispac Beach in Baja and made many trips into mainland Mexico.  In most summers they returned to the Starr Ranch in Scott Valley where John helped Suzi’s father run the ranch. Another summer they purchased Shasta Lake Towing and Garage which they built up and sold at the end of the summer.

In 1999 Suzi’s mother suffered a severe stroke as did John’s mother. This ended their Mexico exploits.  Suzi was caregiver for her mother and John ran the ranch.   John also had the idea of selling Mexican food at fairs purchasing a plain trailer and completely outfitting it for that purpose. The “ Bean Cone” traveled to 4/5 fairs a summer.

To see Johnny on the street or to meet him for the first time he presented a serious expression.  He was an excellent card player and spent many hours playing poker in Yreka and Nevada, winning a tournament at the Peppermill in 2007.   Serious Johnny had a huge heart, often seen taking a  homeless person into  fast food and buying dinner.  He would go out of his way to help family and friends to fix a broken car or appliance. John Pearce was a good man, no man can ask for a better summation of his life.

John is survived by his wife Suzi, daughter Wendy of Yreka, his brothers Bruce (Kathy) of Yreka, Ron (Lori) of Weed and Pat Hill of Sacramento. Brother David passed away in 2015.

Alzhiemers is a terrible brain stealing disease, the family is so grateful to Hospice for their help physically, and with support, direction and empathy..  No services are planned at this time.