John Riley Sherman Laine

John Riley Sherman Laine (Speed), 84 of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2010. He was born in Globe, Arizona April 26, 1925 to Richard Hampton and Clara Imogene Laine and spent all of his life in his beloved Arizona. John went to Wilson Grade School and later to Phoenix Union High School. As with many men in high school during World War II, as soon as John was old enough, he enlisted in the navy on June 29th 1943. He was stationed at the USN Sub Base in Pearl Harbor where he spent his entire enlistment and was discharged March 17, 1946. John made several life-long friends during his navy days and they were all such close friends that his children would refer to them as uncle. Returning from the navy, John became interested in his sister Betty’s best friend, Charlene Hobbs. As the story book read, they fell in love and were married August 6, 1948, and remained sweethearts for 58 years until Charlene’s passing in 2006. “Speed,” as most of his working colleagues referred to him, went to work for Mountain Bell Telephone Company in 1947 as a lineman in The Valley of the Sun. He helped put in much of the newest equipment as the Valley blossomed. Speed spent many of his final years with the telephone company as a Test Deskman. In 1982, after 35 years with the phone company, Speed retired and became a life-long member with the Telephone Pioneers. But as age 57 Speed wasn’t about to slow down. His passion at the time was golf, so Speed being cleaver with his hands (he could fix anything) began a career with the Starfire Scottsdale Country Club. Lots of fresh air, work he enjoyed, and all the free golf he could handle. He was in heaven. Speed made hundreds of friends over those years and worked as the handyman until his second heart attack in February 2009 at the age of 83. Speed’s other passion was stream fishing. Taught by his father and mother primarily at Kohl’s Ranch on the Tonto Creek, he later ventured into the White Mountains of Arizona and would take his family on month-long vacations into the area of Pinetop and the waters of the North Fork of the White River. Here he taught his four children the skills of camping and fishing, which they all still enjoy today. John Riley Sherman was baptized at a young age and again on February 8, 2010. His salvation, with the help of Pastor Barton, was reaffirmed. He knew Jesus as his Savior and we believe he is with his Heavenly Father right now, as the Holy Bible states. Besides his wife of 58 years, Carlene, John is preceded in death by his son, Jack David Laine, grandson Jayson Michael Laine, nephews Jay Riley Bickle and Dale Laine and niece Cindy Magness. He is survived by his sister Betty (Bob) Bickle, brother Guy (Jan) Laine, daughter LaDonna (Richard) Coplan, sons John M. (Jenny) Laine and Jim Laine, 11 incredible grandchildren and 17 fantastic great-grandchildren. Family and friends may visit from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 28th at A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Services will be held on Monday, March 1st at 10:00 AM at the Mortuary.