John Edward Bayless

John Edward Bayless, 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, surrounded by family. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Fairlanes Baptist Church in Borger, Texas with Dr. Chad Chaddick, pastor First Baptist Church of San Marcos, officiating. Viewing will be on Monday, August 23, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Brooks Chapel in Canyon.

John was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma on September 29, 1927 to Ralph Ezra Bayless and Leona Boelyn McClarty. After graduating from Borger High School, John joined the Navy where he served until he was honorably discharged due to rheumatic fever.

Upon his return to Borger, John accompanied his father Ralph to the First Baptist Church of Borger where he met the love of his life, Mary Lee Abbott. After a whirlwind romance and John professing his love to Mary Lee at a local basketball game, the two were wed June 19, 1949 at the First Baptist Church in McLean, Texas.

To know John was to love him. As a resident of Borger, Texas for over 90 years, he poured his heart and soul into his wife, four children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and community. If you didn't recognize his booming voice, famous hugs and tough pats on the back while walking through the World's Largest Fish Fry, while he was ringing the bell at Christmas for the Salvation Army, or simply walking through United, you'd surely recognize "The Commissioner" mobile in the parking lot of almost every community event.

John enjoyed his Friday lunch group at Lorraine's, playing golf, learning how to use the computer to email his grandchildren, and a good ol' fashion bean burrito. However, the one thing he enjoyed most in this world was the company of his wife of 72 years.

To say John was an incredible father and Pappaw would be the world's largest understatement. From getting his grandchildren their first library card, taking them to the beach for the first time, letting them sleep in his lap during the symphony, or purposefully saying the wrong answer to a question to poke fun at his lack of hearing, he'd do it all just to see a smile on a loved one's face. He was a role model for all and spent most of his time teaching his family how to love the Lord.

John spent 16 years as the Hutchinson County Commissioner, was a Deacon for 25 years at the First Baptist Church of Borger, a member of the Borger Lions Club and Borger Chamber of Commerce, the President and Lifetime Member of the Salvation Army, and served as President of the Borger ISD School Board for eight years, where he served an extra term to have the privilege of handing his daughter Leanne her high school diploma.

John is preceded in death by his parents: Ralph Ezra Bayless and Leona Boelyn McClarty; brothers: James (Jim) Bayless and Ralph Eugene Bayless; and sisters: Molly Jane Bayless Brain and Elizabeth (Libby) Bayless Adams.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Mary Lee Bayless of Canyon, sons John (Johnny) Edward Bayless Jr. of Palm Springs, CA, Daniel (Dan) Homer Bayless of San Francisco, CA, and James (Jim) Fredrick Bayless and wife Shelly of Amarillo; his daughter Mary Leanne Bayless Bryan of Graham, Texas; grandchildren Colby John Oates and wife Amanda of Borger, Texas, Abbott Alice Oates and fiancé Mark Figueiras of Houston, Texas, James F. Bayless, Jonathan C. Bayless, and Jordan Cox of Amarillo, Texas; and great-grandchildren Addayln Jaye Oates and Aubrey Kate Oates of Borger, Texas.