OBITUARY

John E. Bryan

1942–March 18, 2021

"Papa John" E. Bryan passed away in his Dayton home on March 18, 2021.

Living on his own from the time he was 15, he learned to do what he had to–to survive. Initially, he supported himself mowing lawns; when old enough to drive he supported himself selling encyclopedias door to door. He told about once when he was hungry with no money how he filled up a shopping cart with food and rushed out of the store. They probably would have let him go, if it was just the food, but he said he threw in a couple of cases of beer, since he was thirsty, too.

As a youth, he and his friends would build hot rods out of junkers and race for pink slips. He knew that if he wanted money, he would have to work. A skilled talker, he got his first driving job at 19, with no idea how to work the multiple transmissions and split shifters of the day, but with determination and help from strangers, he became skilled enough to drive anything. In the same way, he would often stop and offer assistance to anyone who needed it.

In his younger days, he was also a logger and defied death several times: getting crushed by a log on a high lead show and bailing out of a truck at 80 mph before it plunged over a cliff when the air brakes failed coming down off the mountain with a load of logs. He even survived the cancer that killed his father as a young man.

He was an entrepreneur, always thinking of ways to make money. He bought and sold heavy equipment, building up enough to have his own excavating business with his sons. Later he and Marylou started importing and selling unique craft and garden furniture items from Indonesia.

In his retirement years he spent busy days as a hobby farmer and craftsman, creating detailed, insulated birdhouses for Papa Jon's Fly-Inns with Marylou (over 661 birdhouses created and shipped in 2020).

He was known to family and friends as a hardworking, authentic, and loyal man of integrity who lived life to the fullest with an adventurous spirit. He was a devoted husband, and didn't mind stopping for a dance in the store aisle to their song. Unpretentious, he was also known for his genuine, unwavering faith in God. He received Jesus Christ as His Savior as a young boy. In spite of growing up in the foster system, with all his hard knocks, he never doubted who he was in the Lord. Always leading by example, he showed those in his life how to love and be loved.

Forever the comedian, he loved to joke. His unexpected witty, wry comments during mealtime prayers often elicited chuckles from those around.

Although his own father died of cancer when John was only two and he grew up without a caring father figure, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather both to his own children and others who were drawn into his orbit. He was always working on something, but never too busy to haul kids around with him every step of the way, making them feel important and useful.

He is survived by his beloved wife Marylou of 53 years, and his children: Tami and Manny Tabtab, Port Orchard, Wash.; Christine Brentin, Gig Harbor, Wash.; Paul and Ginger Bryan, Dayton; Tim and April Bryan, Tenino; Seth and Melissa Bryan, Dayton; and Josh and Leann Bryan, Gig Harbor. In addition, his legacy includes 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at the Dayton Cemetery for friends and family. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 19, 2021 in honor of John's birthday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Zihuatanejo Christian Fellowship at zihuachristian.org in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.