Obituary: John Bryan Hall III, 80

John, 80, passed away on December 23, 2016 in Yuma, Arizona.

He was born in Marshall, Texas to Virginia Bell Hall and John Bryan Hall, Jr. on May 25, 1936. He graduated from Marshall High School in 1954 and East Texas State University in 1958, whereupon he moved to Saint Mary's, Idaho in search of good fishing. He taught math and shop there for two years and then moved to Seward, Alaska in search of even better fishing. Turns out the fishing in Seward was great, but the earthquakes were a little much, so after the Great Easter Quake of 1964, he moved to Wrangell, where the fishing was still good and earthquakes were less likely to crop up.

In 1965, he married Judy Thomas, mother to his two oldest daughters, Gretchen and Sarah.  In 1972, he married Angelika Densmore and had two more children - Hanna and John Bryan Hall IV.  He was primarily a shop teacher. However, since he taught in small schools he also taught most other subjects, with the exception of Home Economics. He retired from Wrangell High School in 1982.

After he retired from teaching, he stayed active in the community. He was a long time member of the Elks' Club and served as both the Exalted Ruler and the secretary. He coached Little League until his children got too old to play, and then took over the thankless task of home plate umpire.  He served on the School Board - he used to say there should always be at least one teacher on the Board. He built houses for folks, and every morning, rain or shine, went down to the coffee shop to have a cup of coffee and see if anyone knew where the fish were biting. Once the golf course was built, at the prodding of his wife, he took up cow pasture pool.

John was well known for his sense of humor and quirky use of language. It never rained, it "rained like a cow peeing on a flat rock." He loved his friends - and making new ones. He would invite strangers to dinner, who left as friends. He particularly enjoyed having huge Christmas feasts and Easter egg hunts with dozens of friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Angelika, his children Gretchen, Sarah, Hanna and John, his grandchildren Grace, Tommy, Brielle, Anna, Bryan and John, his sister Kathryn and a horde of good friends.