GOUZE, SR., John (Jack) Kenneth

Silver Creek Mortuary, Taylor, Arizona John "Jack" Kenneth Gouze (July 27, 1928 ~ June 1, 2012) John “Jack” Kenneth Gouze of Snowflake AZ, passed on to our Lord on Friday, June 1, 2012. Funeral services are being held Saturday June 9, 2012 at Valley View Baptist Church at 10:00 AM located at 1212 W. Main, Snowflake. Interment will take place at the Snowflake Cemetery ~~~~~~~~~~~ The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 08/10/2012 Beloved John “Jack” Kenneth Gouze, Sr. passed on to be with our Lord Friday, June 1, 2012, at the age of 83. At his passing Jack was surrounded by family and friends including his wife Carolyn of 14 years; daughters Kathryn Nichols and Susan Jones; step-son James Scott; and friends Don McInelly, and George Perkins. Jack was born in Ely, Minnesota to Evelyn (Nankervis) Gouze and John Leopold Gouze. Jack was preceded in death by his older brother, James Gouze and younger brother Richard Gouze, who passed away in 2005. At the age of 7, Jack’s family moved from Ely, Minnesota to Compton, California where he attended elementary school, junior high and high school. Jack joined the United States Navy in October of 1945 and after completing boot camp in San Diego, California he served almost four years on the USS William Mitchell AP 114. He was discharged in June of 1949. Jack married Earlene Hyatt (also of Compton, Calif.) May 4, 1951. While living in Southern California they had three children, Kathryn, Susan and John, Jr. Jack held various jobs from truck driving, to auto parts store manager, to manufacturing and eventually ending his career as a court security officer in Holbrook. Jack and Earlene (married 46 years) lived in California spanning from Southern California (Compton, Lakewood and West Covina) to Northern California settling in the Sebastopol area in 1964. In 1970, they moved to Santa Rosa where their youngest child completed high school. One day they decided to sell most everything they owned and take to the road in their truck and fifth wheel. Eventually they landed in Tucson, where they lived for a couple of years near their eldest daughter. Later, in the early ‘90s, they moved to Snowflake and lived at Putter’s Paradise (Earlene’s brother and wife resided there, too) where they managed the park for approximately five years. They quickly made many new friends. Jack’s wife, Earlene passed away in April of 1997. After Earlene’s passing, Jack dated Carolyn (Held) Scott of Taylor. Jack and Carolyn were married Feb. 28, 1998. That was the beautiful beginning of Jack’s and Carolyn’s life together. Jack and his childhood friend from first grade, Jack Wiley, were best friends for a lifetime both growing up in Compton. As kids they were close like brothers. As teens they spent time together tinkering on the old Model T they purchased for $47. Jack was very proud of his service time in the Navy. He shared many interesting stories of his experiences in the military to whoever seemed interested in listening. In his later years, he was seldom ever seen without his World War II veteran cap tipped slightly to the right side of his head. As a young adult, and in his limited spare time, Jack’s hobby was being under the hood of his cars. His cars were always in great repair! Jack was also known as the backyard barbeque king! He was always eager to start up the grill and enjoy the company of his family and friends. Jack and Earlene spent many weekends entertaining at Lake Pillsbury, Calif. There they had set up a permanent campground designed for long hours of activities including boating fun, food and storytelling by the fire pit with their family and friends. Life was never dull. Jack and Earlene played golf, traveled and truly enjoyed being with their children and grandchildren. When Jack began his new life with Carolyn together they took pleasure in golfing at the Snowflake Golf Course, going to church, playing endless games of Texas Gin, working in the yard, and entertaining their families. They enjoyed their together time spent on road trips to California, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado to visit family and friends. Jack and Carolyn traveled to Ely, Minnesota, the Gouze boy’s birthplace, with Jack’s brothers and sister-in-laws to see and reminisce about their childhood times. Jack and Carolyn vacationed in Hawaii a few years ago with Carolyn’s sister, nephews and nieces. The two recently, before Jack passed away, had taken a road trip to California to celebrate with family his brother Jim’s 85th birthday. There are so many more great memories about Jack, but too many to share in this small space. Jack was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He is and will be greatly missed by all of us who loved him. Services were held June 9, at Valley View Southern Baptist Church with burial and honor guard ceremony at RV Mike Ramsey Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake. Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor handled arrangements. Preceding Jack in death were parents: John and Evelyn Gouze; first wife, Earlene Gouze; and brother Richard Gouze. Survivors include Jack’s wife, Carolyn Gouze of Snowflake; brother Jim Gouze (Lorraine) of Jackson, Calif.; daughter Kathryn Nichols of Tucson; daughter Susan Jones; son John Gouze, Jr. (Donna) of East Wenatchee of East Wenatchee, Wash.; stepson James Scott of Taylor; step-daughter Lisa Purcella of Buffalo, Wyo.; step-daughter Kathy (Sean) Ballard of Phoenix. Also, surviving are Jack’s grandchildren: Glen Jones, Jr., Lisa (Brian) Traum, Kristina (Gregg) Rask, Tina (Travis) Hofstetter, Tino (Cheyenne) Fernandez, Tyler Nichols, Damian, Quentin, and Kalvin Scott, Laken and Ashlee Purcella and Amanda Scott; Great-grandchildren: Brianna and Kailey Hofstetter, Jaden Traum (new baby Traum-to-be), Croydon and Leverett Rask, Hayley Tucker (new baby Fernandez-to-be), and Delaney and Tierney Johnson.