John Ray French was born on July 21, 1950 to John Arthur and Zenia V (Hill) French. Although the family moved quite a bit during his younger years, they finally settled in the Spencer, OK area where he attended and graduated from Star Spencer High School in 1969. Afterward, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and trained in munitions. Assigned to U-tapow Thailand, he also did temporary duty in Vietnam. Once back in the United States, he was assigned to Jackson AFB in Little Rock, AR. He married his high school sweetheart, Alecia Darlene Ingram, in 1971 and they lived in Arkansas before relocating back to Oklahoma. They had three children, Lori Rachelle in 1975, John Ryan in 1977 and James Arthur in 1985.
John's primary career after the military was truck driving. This is where he met his present wife, Linda. They didn't have any children born to them, but they did adopt a little girl, Kendra, born in 2004. Linda also had children prior to marrying John in 1996. It ultimately made for quite a large family, one that is still steadily growing.
Fishing and hunting were John's hobbies later in life. Earlier on, he was more into 4 wheeling. It seems that it's a trait his sons still enjoy. He also loved competing in 18 wheeler rodeos, where he did quite well.
I guess we all have dreams. John had two that I knew about. One was to live in the country. That came true. The other one was to own his own truck. That's when JonLin trucking was born. It was an awesome time even through some of the bumps. The day finally came though when health overtook the dream.
John is survived by his wife, Linda French, and a daughter of the home, Kendra Rushing-French, his mother, Zenia French, his sister, Cynitha, and her husband, Wayne Hughes, and another sister, Sandy, and her husband Larry Starnes. He is also survived by his biological children, Lori and her husband Travis Evans, John Ryan French and his wife, Christa, and James Arthur French and his wife Emily. Additionally he is survived by Linda's children, most of whom considered him as a father figure. These include Christy McCage, Samantha Rushing and Angela French. He was predeceased by his father, John Arthur French in 1989 and a baby boy sibling born in 1947. In addition to this he is survived by 19 grandchildren and a large extended family who will miss his special, full of life character.