Johnnie R. "John" Sharp

Johnnie R. Sharp (John), 84, passed away at his home in Amarillo, Texas. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, January 7, 2021 at First Baptist Church Chapel, with Dr. Howard Batson officiating. Graveside services will follow the service at the Boys Ranch Alumni Cemetery with Rev. Corky Holland, Minister of Pastoral Care and Adult Care FBC-Amarillo and the Reverend John Love officiating. John was born to Iva and Arlie Sharp in Freedom, Oklahoma on April 1, 1936. The family later moved to Alva, Oklahoma. He graduated high school from Alva High School in 1954. In August of 1954 he was inducted into the United States Navy in San Diego, CA. He served four years aboard the USS 898, traveling all thru the Pacific Ocean. He was honorably discharged in August of 1958. John married D’Esta Doctor on October 31, 1958. John and D’Esta began working at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch March 15, 1964. They served as house parents until 1974. John would then serve as Director of Cow/Calf Operations, Farm and Ranch Director and he directed the annual Boys Ranch Rodeo until retiring in May of 1998. John was a member of First Baptist Church of Amarillo and the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association. John loved connecting with many of the young men who he had raised while he was House Parent, as well as the many that worked for him in the Farm and Ranch Program. John was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers, two brothers which were killed in action in WWII. Survivors include his wife, D’Esta, two sons Kim and Dean (Sheri), granddaughters Sydney, Robyn and her husband, Chris, and one great granddaughter, Ava. Also included are adopted family Glenn, Stephanie, Eli and Becki Anderson, Jeff Hull and many others from Cal Farley’s that called him “Dad”. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association, PO Box 9435, Amarillo, 79105, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, 600 SW. 11th in Amarillo or BSA Hospice of the Southwest, 5211 SW 9th, Suite 100, Amarillo, TX. 79106. A special expression of gratitude to BSA hospice nurses, Janna Colvin, Shawn Tucker and Tim Altman and the entire staff of BSA Hospice of the Southwest, for their loving care of John.    

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