John Leon McMinn, self-described as “young, rich, good-looking and above all else, modest,” was born 8/12/1925 in Snyder, TX, and passed away on 8/21/2024 in El Paso, TX. Having a childhood forged by the Great Depression, an adulthood hardened by WWII (serving the US Navy as Aviation Radioman 2nd class), John sought a more romantic escape in the spiritual hunting lands of northern New Mexico where he whisked away the love of his life, Mary Helen Casillas of El Paso, to start a family amidst the rich native culture of Cochiti, NM. As an educator leveraging a BA degree earned from Texas Tech, he taught American History in several local middle schools, but his most natural habitats were in the mountains hunting and fishing, or in the backyard gardening and woodworking. Desiring stronger familial support as his children John Clayton, Robert and Annie began to grow up, he moved the family to El Paso where after 38 years in this loving community and 57 years of a wonderful marriage (celebrated this very day, 8/26/24), he is laid to rest by his wife and children. He is additionally survived by his children's spouses: James Camacho, Jenny McMinn and Sylvia McMinn; his adored grandchildren: Mia Elise Camacho, Mateo Leon Camacho, Abigail Leigh McMinn, Jack Clayton McMinn and two step-grandchildren, Paloma Isabella Palmer and Warren Christopher Palmer; his little sister Ruth Crouch, her husband Lee, both of Lubbock, TX, and their three loving children: Randy Crouch, Lisa Perry, and Dane Crouch and families; as well as his double cousins: Morene Richarson of TN and Lon C. McMinn of FL. 

 God bless this man having shared with us a patient, gentle heart and an eager, robust laugh for 99 short years. Rest for a short while and we will meet you in the air at that last trump. Service 8/26/24 10AM Immanuel Baptist (1201 Hawkins), Burial 1PM Ft. Bliss.