John Walter Coyle

When Pa's dad was dying he told his eleven year old son, my dad, to be a good man. The other day my son-in-law informed Pa that he did it. Pa with an excited and stuttering query asked, "W-what!?" "You're one of the best men I even knew." Pa closed his eyes and cried. This morning he closed his eyes and passed away at the age of 92. My dad didn't know much about guns. When he was on the farm he killed crows with a "shinny four hundred and ten." Long about 1975 I purchased a Winchester model 100 in .308 caliber for $170 including two boxes of ammo. You know the kind with a dull finish so it doesn't scare the deer when you are in the woods? I presented to my dad as a gift. He looked at it and says, "Well I would like a shinny gun." I sent it to a ‘smith who would put a Weatherby finish on it. That was another $170. I put a shinny 3X scope on it from Kmart. He loved it. For many years he didn't know what caliber it was. "What kind of gun do you have, Johnnie?" someone would ask. "Man I got a shinny one!" he would proudly proclaim. I guess it's mine now. I have a shinny gun. For a day's fun my dad took Mom to Disneyland. At the gate someone asked him, "Would you mind waiting here for a few minutes? I think the boss would like to meet you." Since my dad never met a stranger he agreed. The boss hired him on the spot for the job of "cute old man". He started doing commercial for T.V. One time they wanted him to say something like "That pisses me off." I have no idea what the context was. At any rate he told them, "If you want someone to use filthy language you will have to get someone else. My granddaughters might hear me and I'm just not going to say that." "Everyone has their price," the boss retorted. "Well, you just met someone who doesn't," and started for the door. They cut the line so he did the commercial. Daddy was always a gentleman. A few months ago he was watching T.V. when an actor made an actress cry. He wanted my son-in-law to, "Get in there and set that guy straight!" He was very upset. John came next door and got me. "Dad," I started, "do you remember when you did T.V. commercial?" "Yea." "You saw that man make the lady cry?" "Yea." "Well it's just like when you were doing the commercials. They told you what to say and do and you did it. This guy and lady are doing what you used to. The boss told him to say whatever he said and he told her to cry. You understand?" "I guess so. But John needs to get in there and take care of the guy. That wholesome young lady need some help." Although he went to be with the Lord, he will be sorely missed.

Service Information

Friday, June 29th, 2012 1:30pm, Stephens Family Chapel

Interment Details

Granite Hill Cemetery