John Vernon McGregor, 87, a longtime Livermore, Calif., resident, formerly of Baker City, died suddenly on May 13, 2005, after a brief decline in health.
John was born to John and Frances McGregor in Ontario. He spent his first years on the family farm. He later moved to Baker City where he married Sadie Darlene Tripp in 1941. They lived briefly in Wonderland, Calif., where he worked as a welder helping in the construction of Shasta Dam.
In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. He served as a tail gunner in a B-24 during World War II. He flew 50 missions fighting on the European Front. For the past several years, John and his wife, Darlene, faithfully attended the annual reunions held by the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group.
After the war, John and Darlene moved their growing family to California, where he worked as a welder for a number of years. He then became a partner in an ornamental iron business during the 1950s. In 1959, John began a long career as a Mechanical Technician at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He retired in 1981.
According to his family, John was “one of a kind.” He was enthusiastic about all of his varied interests. Over his lifetime he enjoyed hunting, archery, bowling, piloting his piper cub airplane, motorcycling, camping, taking family car trips and traveling in his R.V. He also shared his love of animals with his family by adopting a menagerie of pets throughout his life.
He was a member of numerous associations and had many friends. He was a very social person who enjoyed the companionship of family, friends and neighbors. Always one to tell a good story or share a joke or start a new project, he lived life fully and will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene; brother, Elzie McGregor; sister, Sally Dell; daughters, Sandra Jansen, Diana McGregor and her husband, John Jursco, and Jone McGregor; grandchildren, Bonnie, Kristie, Laura, Andrea, Ian and Devon; great-granddaughters, Maggie, Kaylin, Megan and Hannah; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive him.
A memorial service was held at noon, May 27, at Veterans Memorial Building in Livermore. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to your favorite charity. The family can be contacted at: Family of John Vernon McGregor, 356 Edyethe St., Livermore, California 94550.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, June, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor