GILSTRAP, John A

Redding (CA) Searchlight Sunday, November 27, 2011 Johnny Gilstrap must be running and jumping, shouting and laughing today, having been released from his mortal body on November 24, 2011. He was born November 21, 1937 to Lonnie Allen Gilstrap and Johnnie Elizabeth Whatley in Wickenburg, AZ. His extended family had paused there for a time in their trek from Texas to California. It may have been the foundation of his life long search for the next best place. John grew up in Blythe, California where he and his brother Bobby, lived a true Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn life. They explored the banks of the Colorado River with their BB guns, hunting and fishing and swimming, they learned to play football and baseball on the sandy soil of the family homeplace using handmade balls they fashioned out of tattered jeans. One of his favorite memories was driving the old tractor six miles to town with cousins piled on going to the Saturday matinee movies. He attended school in Blythe, excelling in sports and school leadership. He was the first member of his family to graduate high school and accepted a football scholarship to attend college in Flagstaff, AZ. John had a strong work ethic. He and Bobby began working early in the fields of neighboring farmers. He was allowed to receive his drivers license at age 14 so he could work after school and summers. He had a moment of fame at age 16 when he and a surveying crew for the irrigation district reported seeing a UFO while working out in the Palo Verde area. John and Ellen LeFever were married July 9, 1958. They began their life together living in Riverside, CA. He worked in the booming aerospace industry of that era. Their children Donald and Cheryl were born there. Life was good but John's mantra to see what was down the road began to manifest. By 1962 he had located his family in the Central Valley of California working at the new Armstrong Tire Company. He promised to let his children grow and enjoy their wonder years there, but he was open to the opportunities developing in the area. John found his vocation. He began 20 years as a commercial beekeeper. Managing 3,000 colonies involved the family, a crew of strong young men, a fleet of trucks and many roads to travel. During those years he traveled with his bees throughout California, Arizona and Montana. In 1975 he purchased a ranch in Fresno County for his operation and began producing hay and other crops. In 1990 John began pondering another road trip. One day he came home and announced he had sold the ranch to a neighbor and we had a year to relocate. By 1991 he had purchased property in Modoc County that was called The Last Frontier in the state of California. John could hardly wait to start driving in the snow. But that same year he was caught unaware by another storm. He suffered a cerebral aneurysm. The medical predictions were dire but John survived and with his strength overcame the physical limitations now imposed upon him and continued ranching for another 15 years. He loved Modoc County and his neighbors and could have spent the remainder of of his life there but advancing years and medical needs meant he needed to sell the ranch and retire to Cottonwood where his family could lend support. John was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and he faithfully gave many years of service to the congregations he attended. When he no longer was able to leave his home he anticipated visits from his Home Teachers, Bill and Lola Schaffer, who brought fellowship to him. John was also a member of that larger congregation known as good men and he spent his life meeting and making friends where ever he went. He leaves many who will remember him fondly. John was predeceased by his parents and his son Donald. His memory will be cherished by his wife Ellen, his daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Ivar Amen of Cottonwood, his grandchildren Chad and Blythe Amen, and that special little great-granddaughter Scarlett Amen, with her bright red hair and blue eyes. She could make him smile and laugh out loud when he could no longer converse with others. Services pending at Allen & Dahl, Anderson.