John grew up in Yuma, Arizona and shortly after graduating from Yuma High School, he enlisted in the US Air Force in February of 1960. He served honorably for 30 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force in February of 1990 after achieving the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and logged over 8,400 hours of aircrew time which included over 700 combat hours in Vietnam. Always seeking adventure, John was able to travel the world and especially enjoyed his overseas assignments to the Philippines and Germany. After his retirement from the Air Force, John worked as a Real Estate agent in Sacramento, California and Hanford, California.
John married his wife, Fely Higuera, in 1969 at Clark AFB in the Philippines. They were happily married for 46 years. Together they enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. John also managed to always find the time for a cold beer and a BBQ.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Eloise Wise of Yuma, Arizona and Margaret McNamara, of San Diego, California. He is survived by his spouse, Fely, of Hanford, California, his son Tim of Sacramento, California, his son Stephen of San Diego, California, his daughter Sonia Cervantes of Sacramento, California, his daughter Angie Higuera, of Las Vegas, Nevada, his sisters Maryann Heald, of Turlock, California, Ida Valdez of Mesa, Arizona, and Pauline Murphy of Mesa, Arizona, and his brothers, Hank Higuera of San Diego, California, Paul Higuera, of Yuma, Arizona, and Pat Higuera, of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at People’s Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at People’s Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA at 9am. Burial will follow at Hanford Cemetery 10500 S 10th Ave Hanford, Ca 93230.
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