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Longtime Ninilchik resident John Pherson died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer. He was 76.

Funeral Services were held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik.

Mr. Pherson was born Jan. 14, 1933 in Cripple Creek, Colo. He lived in Ninilchik from 1974 to 2009. John received Christ as his personal savior at a young age. He graduated from Boulder High in Colorado in 1950. One year later, he married Ethel and started a family.

Mr. Pherson was gifted in most any kind of hand craft. When he was 18 he had the opportunity to work for Kewit and learned how to operate a dozer. He loved it and excelled, his innate skill was astonishing. He started a furniture business in the early 50s and did well. In 1960 he started his own excavation business. He sold the business in 1973 and retired, or so he thought.

"Johnny Hanson happened to see the excavating sign on John's Ford pickup, the White Fox. Dad has these pet names for his business vehicles. Johnny saw the pickup parked in the gravel pit at Happy Valley and drove over to Dad and started talking to him. No Internet in those days, so how Johnny found out about the quality of operator Dad was. He asked dad to please come to work for him running dozer and grader. He taught his family the importance of having a good reputation and to have good work ethics. John worked for Johnny Hanson for years and then many other companies for Kenny Arndt, Larry Herndon, Fred Thompson, Shayne Barringer, Wilder, Quality, to name a few. He also worked on the pipeline and in Prudhoe Bay," his family said.

Mr. Pherson was an avid camper, fisherman, hunter, tracker, trapper and pilot. He loved the outdoors, wilderness areas and thoroughly enjoyed backpacking especially unknown areas. Mr. Pherson taught about God's creation and loved life and all that God has given us. Mr. Pherson got his pilot's license in 1971. His children Kit and Jeannie also got their licenses.

Mr. Pherson loved poetry, especially the humorous stuff, reciting often for the joy of all. He enjoyed music and could make the Hawaiian guitar talk.

His family wrote, "Many precious memories. We miss him, but are happy that he is in a better place. Praise God. Thank you Jesus. We know we'll see him again."

Mr. Pherson was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Ethel Pherson.

He is survived by his brothers Robert, Elmer, Jimmy and Delbert Pherson; sister Betty Stengel; children Mary Calhoun, Jeannie Johnson and Kit Pherson; grandchildren, Mike and Shane Shannon, Cassandra Parkinson, Sheri Coons, John and Josh Taylor, Diane, Esther, David and Carla Pherson; great-grandchildren, Syleena, Taylor, and Wyatt, Shannon, Ashley, Kelsey, Stanley, and Lance Parkinson; Johnny and Craig Newman; Katlyn and Brynn Coons, Jaryn and Savanah Taylor; great-great-grandchild, Destyni Gean Redding; sons in-law, John Calhoun and Rick Johnson; daughter-in-law Joy Pherson, grandson-in-law, Kirt Parkinson and Butch Coons.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.