John Kennedy McGuire passed away on May 10, 2021 just shy of his 93rd birthday in Eureka. He began his life’s journey in Glasgow, Scotland on June 5, 1928. He was a British Army veteran who met his wife Elizabeth after mustering out of the service. John apprenticed as a Terrazzo mason and worked throughout Scotland and England before emigrating to Vancouver, Canada in 1956 with Elizabeth (Betty) and their two young sons, John and Jerry. The family, which now including youngest son Stephen, moved to Eureka in 1960. John continued to work in construction becoming an accomplished cement mason and building contractor. Many of the exposed aggregate sidewalks in Old Town are the work of John and his son Jerry. John also built all four of the homes they have lived in with the exception of their first home.

In 1993, John and Betty retired to their lovely Willow Creek home that John built and enjoyed family, friends, golf, gardening, and travel for the next 30 years. They both loved golf and were members of the Willow Creek Golf Club, enjoying many trips with golfing friends to Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and California that were arranged by WCGC members.

Having lived a long life, John is preceded in death by his mother Mary (Polly) and his father Phillip, his brothers Rankin, Phillip, James, sister Phyliss, and many friends.

John leaves behind his wife of 71 years, Elizabeth and his sons, John (wife Melody), Jerry, Stephen (wife Sherry), grandchildren Jason, Adam, Brittany, Jake, Stephen, and Katie, great-grandchildren, Maya, Luke, Natalee, Avery, Lucy, and brother Charlie along with nieces and nephews back in Scotland.

Our family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Frye’s Care Home for their compassionate care in the last weeks of John’s life.

There will be no service at this time.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of John McGuire’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.