JOHN MERRILL BENEDICT, IV

Surrounded by friends and his wife, Lora, John Merrill Benedict, IV, died of a massive stroke on Thursday, November 13, 2008, in Scottsdale, AZ. Jack, son of John and Patty Benedict, was born in Washington, DC, on September 20, 1945, and lived in Chehalis, WA as a youngster. Jack attended Whitman College and graduated from the University of Washington. Jack served in the U.S. Navy stateside and in Puerto Rico from 1968 to 1972. In 1973 he married Karen Johnson and pursued a successful recruiting, sales, negotiation, and business management career in Bellevue, WA. Jack and Karen’s sons, Jason and Todd were born in 1977 and 1982 respectively.In 1993 he married Lora Salas, and they made a home in North Bend, WA. He pursued his life-long passion for fly-fishing, spent his time tying flies and fishing the PNW. They enjoyed their summer home in Ennis, MT and in his retirement, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional fly-fishing guide on the Madison River in southwestern Montana. In 2002 Jack and Lora moved to Cave Creek, AZ where he enjoyed running half marathons in the Valley of the Sun with his dear friends. He continued to spend his summers in Montana, enjoying the beauty of his surroundings at the base of the Rockies. Jack lived an enthusiastic and vibrant twelve-step program for over 25 years. This fellowship was the heart and soul of his existence.Jack is survived by his wife, Lora; son, Jason and fiancée Christina Hilmer expecting his first granddaughter; son, Todd; sister, Pann; ex-wife, Karen; uncles and aunts James and Agnes, Lloyd and Dee; nu-merous cousins, and his fur children Anny and Wilma.Jack’s Washington Memorial will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2008, at 12 noon at Bellevue Christian Reformed Church, 1221 – 148th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98007. Donations may be made to www.thecrossroadsinc.org or www.alanocluboftheeastside.org.

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