Thank you Mr. Faris,
I was in the marching band and I think about your dedication. While I am not involved in any organized music group, I listen to music and appreciate music and even write no doubt you had a hand in it. Thank you.

Dear Craig and Family,
Sorry, to hear of your loss.  With Our Deepest Sympathy.
His music family, and others, will miss him, greatly.  
I am glad to have had the pleasure of being one of his many students.
Michelle and Lois Johnson

To The Faris Family,  What a wonderful pleasure it was to have known John over the years!  I treasure my one on one time with him at Denny's. The world of music has suffered a great loss.  He will be fondly remembered.   Setterberg Jewelers

Dear Dana,
What fun I had knowing John. We mostly dropped names of common friends in music and history. 
__I played one summer in Glendale Band after he badgered me for years to come have fun. It was so much fun I wrote a letter to my old high school band friends about it. I cc'd John--I thought he'd get a kick out of reading it. He included it in the next week's concert program when I was out of town. The following week I met more people in band. When I said my name they responded, "Oh you're the guy who wrote the letter." What letter? Finally someone told me. I called John. Yep,he printed it for all to see. I asked, "Aren't you supposed to ask the author about something like that before printing?" Can you guess what he said? "That doesn't apply to you." 
__I couldn't find the time to return to summer band but he kept inviting me. Finally he told me they would play Sleigh Ride again, a song he knew I love, and loved playing. That was the year he decided not to return as director. When he asked why I didn't keep my part of the bargain, I said he didn't keep his part. Not being director any more, that is. He laughed as he told me that was a sneaky way to get out of our bargain.
__It is a custom of his Rotary club to roast the incoming president. He had me come to handle that honor at his induction... and I was a member of Kiwanis. He always did like mixing things up a bit. Ha ha! That was fun too!
__John was a terrific guy. I enjoyed his friendship a lot! I know I speak for Diana too. Sorry for your loss.

My heart is heavy as I've learned of John's passing.  His direction of music for my family and also my late husband and I was such a blessing.  Dana, we love you and John and I pray that you are at peace knowing that John is now leading a heavenly choir.

I have just learned of John's passing and my heart is heavy as I remember fondly this very talented gentleman and his love for music.  My family was honored to sing under him as well as play bells under his direction at Agua Fria HS.  My late husband and I loved being under his direction with the Cassilons and an occational chance to sing in Glendale at the summer programs.  May God be very close to you at this time Dana and family. You are loved.  Joann Forstner

Dear Dana and family,
May you feel God's comfort and love during this difficult time.
With deepest sympathy, Frank, Marianne, Tommy and Frankie Schmitt

I want so say how honored I have been to have met John through the City of Glendale Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Board along with Glendale High School's Interact Group. He truly was a remarkable man and he will be missed. How blessed we were to have him in our lives.

I just received word of John's passing. I first met him when he was Band Director at Tolleson and I was at Agua Fria in the early 60's. I especially remember combining our bands for the half-time shows during the annual football game between the two schools. We also did several combined summer Band Camps.  "Those were the days!" John was everything and more than his obituary documented. He was a good colleague and I always looked forward to our visits at least once a year, until the last few years, when I returned to Arizona.  John was an excellent music educator, a gentle man and a long time friend. My life has been richer because of John.  Condolences to Dana and family.

I am so very sorry to hear about John's passing. He was a wonderful person, and a great band director who had a lot of showmanship. It was a pleasure to play in the Glendale Summer Band during the years that he directed. He brought it back to what E. Lowell Rogers had intended it to be. He was such a gracious person, was so well organized, and really knew how to promote the organizations that he led. I enjoyed visiting with him about Spike Jones and how he had met Spike Jones' trumpet player, George Rock, playing at a restaurant out here in Arizona. Being from the Southern Illinois area, I also enjoyed visiting with him because he had grown up in St. Louis, MO, which was near where I was from. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit will live on in all those he has inspired through the years.

John, it was a pleasure working with you in music & for the Az National Music Association! You will be missed! My condolences to your family!

John Faris was an amazing man who did so much for the communities where he lived and worked.  He spent countless hours improving music education in the state of Arizona.  He has touched so many lives.  John Faris will be missed and never forgotten.

Dear Dana,

Your friends at the Mental Health Guild are thinking of you and your family at this very sad time. Please know we are and always will be here for you. 

With love,
The Mental Health Guild Board of Directors

My thoughts and prayers to Craig and Celia to the entire Faris family.

Thank you Mr. Faris for your enthusiasm, love of music, dedication, pride, passion, humor, and the gift of knowing that each one of us was a part of something special...whether it was The Band of Owls, choir, handbells, musical theater...we were in it together and the memories we would " cherish as the years go by..."
You will be missed.

Our prayers and love go to John's family.  We looked forward to seeing him every Summer at the Park.  It just won't be the same without him.

I have been playing in community bands and other community musical organizations for over forty years. I have played under the direction of many people, and John Faris will always stand out as one of the best. I played under his direction at Phoenix College.

John made everyone feel welcome and important, regardless of musical abilty. He made band fun to play in. He is the only director I remember who always started rehearsals on time and admonished people who were late. John was one of the few who knew that quality involved more than just good musicianship.

Thank you John. The world will miss you.
Dean Patrick Preising

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

We can all be grateful for John's tireless devotion to music and the community.  I have been in the Glendale Summer Band since 1991.  John always pulled us through the rehearsals and the time constraints so professionally.  Thank you John for all you've done throughout the years.  We are all so rich for your devotion.

John Faris will be missed.  I did many things at Agua Fria under his direction:  band, all 3 choirs and handbells.  His tireless dedication to each and every student created many life-long musicans, me included! I will always remeber him fondly!

I was one of so many students Mr. Faris enriched with his creativity, innovation and passion for music.  I remember that you never knew what your school group photo was going to look like because he always had a new inventive design!  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Herb Hildebrandt , Long time member, in the Trumpet section , of the Glendale Summer Band. Will never forget all those June and July Tuesday rehearsals and Thursday concerts with John Faris as Director. Loved the stories John told of growing up in St. Louis.

John will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Dana and their family.

Best Regards  Herb

OBITUARY

John Crockett Faris

September 16, 1934 – December 24, 2016

Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services