April 11, 2013
John A. Liddell

John A. Liddell passed away March 30 at Rosewood Memory Care in Beaverton, Ore. He had been fighting Alzheimer’s for some time and it finally won. John is the son of Sarah Liddell Potts and W. Adrian Liddell. He grew up in Tooele and graduated from Tooele High School in 1959. After high school, John joined the Air Force and was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii from 1960 to 1964. It was in Hawaii that he met Genie Canque who became his wife. They made their home in Lacey, Wash., for 42 years. They had two sons, Keone Anthony (Angie) Liddell and Kimo Adrian Liddell. They were blessed with three beautiful grandkids, Brisco, Brooke and Benjamin. Their children and grandchildren were the love of his life. John earned his bachelors degree at St. Martin’s College and his masters degree at the University of Puget Sound. He served as an auditor with several departments of Washington state and retired after 33 years of public service. John was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the elders quorum, was an executive secretary and a scout master for many years. He had a very special spot in his heart and life for the scriptures, which his daughter-in-law Angie would read to him several times a week on her visits to Rosewood Memory Care. When John was stationed in Hawaii, he took on the Hawaiian life and cultures. He loved Hawaii and the people, and they loved him. It was not uncommon for John and Genie to have huge luaus in their big backyard. It is said of John that he “lived Aloha” which in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion, mercy and hello among many other warm sentiments. It is especially used in Hawaii as a greeting meaning hello and goodbye. He was a man who always thought of others first and whose motto was “Who can I help today?” John is preceded in death by his father, W. Adrian Liddell and step-parents W. Earl Potts and Marrien Urwin Liddell. He is survived by his wife Genie, sons Keone (Angie) and Kimo Liddell, his sweet grandchildren Brisco, Brooke, and Benjamin, brothers Dr. Thomas (Corinne) Liddell and Douglas Wilton (Julie) Liddell, and sisters Betty Jo Young, Caryn (Rich) Davis and Debby (Richard) Peacock. He was buried April 10 with full military honors at Williamette National Veterans Cemetery. For today, it is a time to say goodbye. Aloha, John, ‘til we meet again.