EVANSTON: John Alvin Elmer, 77, was born the son of Alvin J. and Merle (Johnson) Elmer Oct. 20, 1943, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He was welcomed home by his parents and sisters Judy and Nola.
They had recently moved to Birch Creek, Utah, and built a 2-room cabin to welcome their new baby home. Dad hadn’t gotten the linoleum laid so the night mother and John came home from the hospital, late that night Dad prepared the rough lumber floor by scattering hay over it to pad the linoleum. Dad pulled the burning cook stove up with chains.
He attended school in McKinnon, where his mother was the teacher. As he became older, he enjoyed playing baseball and played for the Manila Mustangs. He graduated from Green River High School. He enjoyed playing the guitar and started a dance band called Johnny and the Ridge Runners. They played at the Villa in Manila and all over the west. John was quite the entertainer. Through the years ,he met and sometimes played with Tex Ross, Tommy Overstreet, Bobby Baer and Waylon Jennings.
John is survived by his children: Stacey (Troy) Gatherum, Nick (Cindi) Elmer, Tina (Jim) Johnson, Charles (Tomilynn) Elmer, Snow Palmisano and William (Jamie) Elmer; sister, Nola (Rodney) Bluemel of Lyman; 20 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial services will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021; 2 p.m., at Crandall Funeral Home 800 Uinta St., Evanston. Condolences may be expressed at www.crandallfhevanston.com.
