John Leon Zachary, a loving husband of 45 years and proud father, passed away in Houston, Texas on March 27, 2023.

John was born in Guymon, Oklahoma on February 10, 1954, to John and Olene Zachary.  He was the youngest of four children.  John gave his life to Christ at an early age. With a family heritage that included a circuit-riding preacher in the Oklahoma territory, he came from a family of great faith in Christ. He grew up with church as his second home. Losing his dad when he was two, he was raised by his loving mother who taught him the joys of cooking. John passed down the practice of never measuring or eating the same meal twice to his own children.

John grew up near a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and he loved family gatherings and weekends playing. He had a unique hobby for a kid, reading the encyclopedia, which is why he knew so much about so many topics. He loved to learn! In the summers, he drove a combine for the harvest, worked at a parts store, and then worked on an early computer, running payroll at night. John graduated from Guymon High School in 1972 where he was in the chess club, and at times, he held the class record for pull-ups and push-ups in gym, much to the consternation of some of his more athletic classmates.

He graduated college with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration in 1977. He soon pursued his passion for numbers, business, and economics, but not before proposing to Linda.  John was a romantic and married Linda, the love of his life, in 1977. Theirs was a once-in-a-lifetime blind date that led to 45 years of life and love together. They built their marriage with God as their center.  With the goal of fostering a relationship that would stand the test of time, they followed the teaching of the scripture, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger."  They thrived through the good and sad times and were blessed with a joy-filled life and five kids, which was always John's hope.

John had a passion for accounting and was an avid problem solver, peacemaker, and negotiator. Anyone who spent time with him knew he could calculate percentages in his head faster than folks could punch the problem into a calculator! He was so analytical!  John was consistently able to identify new areas for improvement in business; he was often tasked with sorting out difficult situations. Several times, his colleagues introduced him as "one of the smartest men I know."  Another colleague stated, "John brought a real calm to the office," and "John changed the way we did business."  John was patient and great at mentoring others.

In addition to his successful career, John most enjoyed having a bustling household full of loved ones playing board games, laughing, and joking around. With five children, there was never a dull moment in the Zachary home. He was a perpetual learner and pursued many hobbies that he taught and shared with his children.  John built furniture and other wood projects in his garage, and he instilled skills into his children for completing such tasks well. He was a proficient grill master and often made new seasoning blends to spice up his meals. If you weren't crying, then it wasn't hot enough. Photography caught his interest from a young age, and he traveled to many countries and explored the world with friends and family, capturing memories throughout his life.

John is survived by his loving wife, Linda Zachary, his daughter Jennifer Guillory and her husband Tyler Guillory, son John Zachary, daughter Amanda Smith and her husband Jake Smith, son Aaron Zachary, and son Brandon Zachary, as well as a host of extended family and lifelong friends.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him personally and professionally. His memory lives on in those whose hearts he touched.  He served and honored Christ Jesus in the way he lived his life. In 2 Corinthians 5:8, the Apostle Paul said, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." NKJV.

and to notify the family of your memorial donation, please enter Linda's email: lmzachary@hotmail.com

LIVESTREAM LINK FOR THE SERVICE: https://youtube.com/live/5jFAupfl3wY?feature=share