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John Sanford
John Cliff Sanford, 80, of King Hill, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at his home in King Hill, from cancer. He was with family and friends.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, from 4-7 p.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. Funeral services will be held at the VFW Hall in Glenns Ferry, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, with a viewing from 9:15-10 a.m. and services beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry.
John was born May 31, 1929, in Nampa, to John L. and Bertha J. Sanford. John's family lived in numerous Idaho locations before settling in Glenns Ferry.
John loved sports in high school.
He entered the US Navy on his 17th birthday and became a navigator on a PBY.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Gayla Jean Thomsen, as soon as he got out of the Navy, on Aug. 30, 1950. They headed to the University of Idaho, where John earned his degree in business and accounting, graduating in 1955.
They had all three of their children while living in Moscow, John "Corb", Beckie, and Dan.
After graduating they moved back to southern Idaho where John went to work for GMAC.
In 1963 John was transferred to Oregon where he raised his family in Medford, Ashland and Eugene.
John enjoyed flying, golfing, big game hunting, snowmobiling, team roping, cow cutting and the smell of horses.
In 1969 they returned to Boise where John started his own insurance company that he and his family ran until 2000.
John and Gayla also ran J-G Ranches in Meridian and Glenns Ferry and were very active in many horse associations like NFSBF, NCHA, NQHBA, Gem County Quarter Horse, and AQHA. His favorite pastime was judging high school rodeos.
They retired in 2004 to their property in King Hill.
John is survived by his beautiful wife of 59 years, Gayla, his son John Corbett (Feng), Boise, a daughter, Rebecca J. (Eric), Glenns Ferry and son Daniel C. Sanford (Carla), Boise, a brother Frank Sanford (Verita), Mackey, Idaho, a sister Bertha Mueller (Glen), Scapoose, Ore., and a sister Ann Faulkner (Paul), Pocatello, Idaho. John has 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 14 horses.
He is missed very much by all.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a sister June Gooby, Seattle, Wash., and two grandchildren, Jeffrey Thomas Seamons and Stephanie Wynn Seamons.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in John's name to the Three Island Senior Center 502 E. Cleveland St., Glenns Ferry, ID 83623, or the Glenns Ferry VFW, c/o 8204 E. John Parke Rd, King Hill, ID 83633 for all the community support they both do.