John David Vanley, 64, of Evans, CO died on Tuesday, September 4, 2007. He was born on December 18, 1942 in Bartlesville, OK to John and Frenchen (Bennett) Vanley. After graduating from College High School in 1961, he attended Central Bible College where he traveled with a singing quartet.
On June 17, 1964, John David married Sharon Ann Hixenbaugh in Fleming, CO and both resumed their studies at Central Bible College. From 1965 to 1976, they served as youth ministers, ministers of music, and pastors of Assemblies of God churches in Bartlesville, OK, El Centro, CA, Powell, WY, Tribune and Leoti, KS, and Cheyenne, WY as well as traveling evangelists for 2 years singing and preaching the glorious gospel of Christ. He co-authored a book and wrote many articles that appeared in Christian publications.
Although John David continued to minister, professionally in 1976 he entered the Engineering field as an Electrical Designer and held positions throughout Kansas, Texas, Washington, Connecticut, and Colorado for various corporations including: Texaco, Bayer Corporation, Nepco, Fuel Cell Energy, Jacobs Engineering, Shaw Engineering, and CH2MHill.
John David played guitar, sang Christian songs, and loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking, bicycling. He took great pleasure in spending time with family and friends. He found his utmost joy in ministering and sharing the love of Jesus that so transformed him at 9 years of age.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Vanley of Evans; two daughters, Mrs. Jennifer Petersen and husband Eric of Evans, Mrs. Amanda Payne and husband Richard of Fort Collins, and a son, Jeremy Vanley of San Francisco, CA; four grandchildren, Haley, Grace, and Mckenna Petersen and Davis Payne; and two sisters, Renee Brown of Midlothian, TX and Judy Walker of Kapolei, HI.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of John David Vanley will be held at Destiny Christian Center (6250 W. 10th Street) in Greeley, CO on Saturday, September 22 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Gideons International.