John Warren Red

We are sad to announce the passing of John Warren Red at the age of 79. John passed away peacefully in his sleep at 6:15am November 15th, 2022, in his adopted city of Seattle, Washington after spending the evening with his family.

John was born in Montgomery County, Conroe, Texas on December 31st, 1942, to Eldon C Red and Mary E. Groce. John was the second of three sons born to Eldon and Mary. John has an older brother Ted and younger brother Claude who both reside near Houston Texas. He grew up in the Mill town of Willis Texas where his dad worked at the Mill and where his grandparents owned a gas station in Groceville, named after the Groces. If anyone tried to skip out on paying Mawmaw, (John’s grandma) she was quick to run out with her pistol! John grew up going to the local Methodist church in Willis, TX. and later attended the Groceville Southern Baptist church where he served as the Sunday School Superintendent. It was located on the Groce property.

After graduating from Conroe High School in 1961, John had various jobs as a shipping clerk until he joined the United States Coast Guard in 1963, to "See the World". While in the Coast Guard he served 2 tours in Alaska on an Icebreaker. John also patrolled the waters of the Puget Sound and was proud of the many people he helped save during those years. He served 4 years and then joined the Reserves. He was Honorably Discharged in 1969. John remained in the Reserves while working as a cook and going to college. During these years in the Military, he married Janice Gardener and his 3 kids Greg, Gary, and Laurie were born.

In 1974, John received his Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences - Civil Engineering Technology and worked as a civil engineer and surveyor in Seattle and Bellevue Washington areas until 1979. After deciding that civil engineering was not for him, John went to a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning trade school in Lynnwood Washington while working at Blazes Broiler after realizing he was good at working on restaurant equipment. He began his career as a tech and then became a company owner in the HVAC service and construction industry from 1980 through 2007. Azteca, Taco Time, Dag's and Herfy's were some of his first clients.

After divorcing in 1987 he later moved back to Conroe Texas and married his high-school Sweetheart Pam where he continued with his HVAC business for many years. He returned to Seattle around 2001 to live closer to his kids and grandkids.

John enjoyed his late retirement years working as a security guard at a local private high school in Shoreline Washington. Moving from Bitter Lake to Edmonds around 2012, the last 10 years he could be seen driving his blue power chair around the streets of downtown Edmonds, wearing his Coast Guard hat, and frequenting the many restaurants around town where he was well known. Stories of his time in the Coast Guard and pride in his family were often shared with friends.

John loved cooking, with homemade down home cooking Texas style was his specialty. Texas Chicken and Dumplings, Sunday roasts, his famous Mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese were favorites he shared and showed love to his family. He also enjoyed gardening. Roses were a particular favorite, but also enjoyed Dahlias and his vegetables. Another favorite of John’s was old spaghetti westerns, they played almost nonstop in his later years whenever he was home. Bonanza being a particular favorite! And the occasional sports game.

Another memory the kids have were the many trips back home to Texas and all the travels in the Winnebago and luv pickup and camper. He enjoyed exploring and took the scenic routes, sometimes resulting in interesting adventures involving cowherds, flash floods, snow in summer, and 30-mile dirt road "shortcuts".

John is survived by his sons Greg and Gary, his daughter Laurie and grandchildren Jeremy, Jessica, Jonathan, Zachary, Taylor, Mikayla, and Eliana. John’s children and grandchildren were the pride of his life.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 28th, 2022, at 1:00 PM at the Evergreen Funeral Home (4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203). With a light reception following.