Johnny R. Hernandez

Johnny R, Hernandez went home to be with his Lord on Aug 19, 2015.

Johnny was born November 30, 1937, to Ramero and Rosalie Orosco Hernandez in Powell, Wyoming. He grew up on the family farm along with his 4 brothers and 3 sisters, helping with much of the running of the farm…milking cows, feeding chickens, hoeing beets and anything else a farm boy does.
But, he had roaming feet. He did not finish high school, he had too much of this country to see.  At 16, he headed to Texas, to live with his aunt and uncle. Over the next few years he was either in Texas, or heading down the road just to see where it would take him. That is until he got an “invitation” from Uncle Sam, telling him he was “in the army now”. He did his time and found himself stationed in Virginia, when he was discharged.  He stayed on that side of the country until the road heading west started to beckon, then, he packed his bags and headed for California.
He met a man that would become a very good friend and they hung out in California, for a while, until this friend told him he was heading to Idaho, and wanted Johnny to go with him to the big city of Rigby. Just like that, Johnny was off on another adventure.
In Idaho, Johnny worked in potato warehouses for a couple years. One day, his friend told him he wanted to go to Roberts, and play pool.  Off they went. It was in Roberts, that Johnny met a young lady by the name of Christine “Chris” Seefried. Johnny always said it was love at first sight. He told her later he knew she was the one he would someday marry. And, he was right!
They were married on May 24, 1970, in Idaho Falls. One of the first places they lived was Menan, Idaho. It was in Menan, that the first of their 2 sons was born. Johnny was a proud Papa!  He went out and bought a teddy bear that was 3 times as big as his new son.  Lonnie was the apple of his eye.
However, it also was not long before those traveling feet needed to see what was over the next hill. For the next 3 years, they lived all over southern Idaho…Ririe, Roberts, Lewisville, Howe, Pocatello, American Falls, & Blackfoot.
Their 2nd son, Johnny Jr., was born when the family was living in Blackfoot. Now his family was complete.  Johnny had his 2 boys and no father could have been more proud of his kids then Johnny was of his boys.
While living in Blackfoot, the Teton Dam broke, and the family had about 8 feet of water in the house they were living in. HUD put the family into a trailer in Moreland.  While living in Moreland, Johnny drove mail truck from Pocatello, to Mackay, 6 days a week. He loved it!  He would have to be in Mackay, by 8 am, for the mail to be on time. But, then he had all day to go out Chris’s family’s ranch and spend time with his in-laws, Bill & Shirley Seefried. He would fish, watch TV, or just visit with them.
Many people did not know that not only was Johnny delivering the mail, but he was also delivering all the bread that Mackay needed.  He would pick it up at Eddy's bakery in the morning.  Then, before he would leave Mackay at 5 pm, he would go past the bank and they put in a money bag that he carry out to the desert and deliver to an armored truck.  After putting the money in the armored truck that would head for Idaho Falls, he would head for Blackfoot, and then on to Pocatello. Sometimes he would take the entire family with him on this run.
Johnny next moved his family to Pocatello, where he worked for Walker Monument for many years, setting vaults and headstones. It was while doing this job that he heard about an opening for a care- taker at the cemetery in American Falls.  This job provided a home, so Johnny moved his family to the American Falls cemetery where Johnny ran the cemetery for the next 17 years.
Even after his health took a turn for the worse and Johnny had to retire from the cemetery, he still could not sit at home.  He became known all over as the person that could catch the fish. He always said the fishing was great!  The catching was the hard part.
He was also a crossing guard for the American Falls school district for 17 years.  A 2013 accident, that caused severe injury to Johnny & the loss of Johnny’s beloved & well known purple truck, would not allow Johnny to return to this job.     
Johnny is survived by his wife of 45 years, Chris, his 2 sons, Lonnie (Patricia) Hernandez and Johnny (Kathrine) Hernandez, all of American Falls, 3 grandkids, Amanda, Stephanie and Anthony Hernandez, 2 step grandkids, Noah and Hope Dossey and 1 great grandson, Jonathan.  He is also survived by a brother Porky (Sharon) Hernandez of Powell, Wyoming, 2 sisters, Susie Blunt, also of Powell, Wyoming, & Julie (Max) Gonzalics of Washington, and many of nieces and nephews, and a very close & special friend Jessie Castillo, Johnny’s yard work buddy.  
He is proceeded in death by his parents, 3 brothers Joe, Mike and Raymond, & 1 sister, Emily.

A Celebration of life will be held Thursday, August 27 at 11:00 am in the Powerhouse Christian Fellowship, 2905 Sunbeam Rd., American Falls, Idaho.  Interment will take place at a later date in Mackay, Idaho.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello, 232-0542.  Condolences and a full obituary will be available at www.cornelisonfh.com

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