John Lawrence Mayer

John Lawrence Mayer passed from this life into the arms of his loving Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 14th,2025 in Bakersfield California. He was 96. John Lawrence Mayer was born in 1928 to John William Mayer and Mildred Martha Younge Mayer. During his childhood he lived in multiple areas locally including Flush, Zeandale and Wamego, Kansas. He attended elementary school in Zeandale Ks graduating from St George, Kansas in 1947. He then attended college in western Kansas where he would soon embark upon a career of teaching. John served in the Korean War and upon returning home began his career as a teacher in Western Kansas. At one school the students were referred to as the “River Rats” and those surviving have remained in contact with him until his passing. As an old saying “Go West Young Man,” John moved to Bakersfield, California where he continued his teaching career until his retirement. He touched the lives of thousands and remained in contact with many of them and their families. Many of the students had children that he also had the privilege of teaching. He knew them all by name. His legacy as a great educator has set the bar very high for others to follow. Upon retirement he moved home to Wamego, Kansas but a few years later decided to sell his home and move back to Bakersfield where he remained. John did not know any strangers and greeted everyone as an old and dear friend. He enjoyed art and had created many of his own paintings and sculptures. As a young man, he posed as a model for renowned sculptor, Pete Felton in Hays, Kansas. (Mr Felton has sculptures displayed throughout Hays Kansas and sold nationwide as well as creating/sculpting the statues in the tundra at the State Capital in Topeka, Kansas) They remain friends. John enjoyed traveling and had been to Egypt to see the tomb of King Tut amongst other travels, including cruises and bus trips. He took pride in and felt honored to be a recipient of an Honor Flight to Washington DC that he enjoyed very much. A frequent phrase you might hear from John was “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” He lived a fulfilling life with this motto. John is survived by his sisters, Barbara Jean Etienne of Wamego, Kansas; Patty Lou Spain of Wichita, Kansas, and Peggy Sue (Bishop) Poledna of Fort Worth, Texas, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and countless numbers of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Mildred Mayer and two siblings Lynn Joseph Mayer and Joan Audrey (Rowe) Kohn.

John Lawrence Mayer

September 8, 1928 - March 14, 2025

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John Lawrence Mayer

September 8, 1928 - March 14, 2025

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