John Claxon, 79, of Nampa, Idaho, passed away on Tues., Jan. 12, 2010 at his home. There will be a celebration of John's life at his home, 46 N. Pit Lane in Nampa, Idaho on Sat., Jan. 23rd from 1 - 3 p.m. John was born March 6, 1930, in Portsmouth, Ohio to Leslie & Gertrude Claxon. He graduated from South Webster High School in 1948, and was drafted into the Korean War in 1951 where he served in the Fifth Regiment of the Army for two years. Using the proceeds from the GI bill, John attained his bachelor's degree in education at Rio Grande College in Gallipolis, Ohio in 1958. In 1959, John married Betty Angel of Wheelersburg, Ohio. In 1962, while teaching in Clay Township, Ohio, John attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he earned his Master's in education. Later in 1962, John and his family moved west to Idaho where he taught government at Meridian High School until he retired in 1989. During the summers off while teaching in Idaho, John worked for the Bureau of Land Management transporting firefighters to and from wildfires. John had a great love of nature and being outdoors. He spent his leisure time hunting, fishing, camping, rock hunting, and telling stories that only he could tell so well. He especially loved being in the Owyhee Mountains roasting weenies on a sagebrush fire. Despite living with lung cancer for the last year, John retained his optimistic "Mr. Sunshine" manner and his colorful sense of humor. John is survived by his daughters, Teresa Davison and her fiancé, Andre Mable, of Ontario, Oregon, and Jill Claxon, of Middleton, Idaho; his granddaughters Meagan Davison, of Nampa, Idaho, and Drew Davison, of Middleton, Idaho; his sisters, Lacy Litteral of Wheelersburg, Ohio, Juanita Schafer of Franklin Furnace, Ohio, Betty Hagen, of South Webster, Ohio, and Linda Spurlock, of Wheelersburg, Ohio; and his countless number of life-long friends. John was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and 10 brothers and sisters. Special thanks go out to the wonderful staff of Hospice who took such good care of John, and to all of his friends who helped make his life so full and enjoyable. Donations may be made to the Idaho Youth Ranch, 135 Caldwell Blvd., Nampa, Idaho 83651, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Cremation Society of Idaho