Dr. John Clark Sibley Jr

John Clark Sibley, a longtime resident of Cornville and Sedona, passed away on October 28 at the age of 88.

The son of John Sibley Sr. and Olive Woodside Sibley, John was born on September 8, 1938, in Oil City, Pennsylvania. He grew up in California after his family settled there in 1943.

A devoted son and brother, John was the middle child in a family of five, with three sisters and two brothers. He loved the outdoors and was active in the Boy Scouts, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. In high school, he played football and trumpet. Following graduation, he was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his degree in optometry in 1967.

While at Berkeley, John played trumpet in the university's marching band, performing with them in Brussels, Belgium, at the World's Fair. It was also during this time that he met and married Billie Marian Cocherell in 1965.

John established his optometry practice in Alta Loma, California, and later worked for Kaiser in Fontana. He retired to Arizona in the mid-1990s.

His love of travel took him from the Alaskan highways to the heathered hills of Scotland, and from the wonders of Rome to the highways and byways of America. A true history buff, he rarely needed a guide.

John was always active in community service. He was a member of both the Rotary Club and Kiwanis, provided pro bono eye exams in local schools, and coached young girls' soccer teams. Alongside Billie, a retired nurse, he also volunteered with hospice. Following Billie's passing in 2010, John continued his commitment to service by serving on the board of trustees for Immaculate Conception Catholic School for several years.

Always ready with a helping hand and a generous heart, John was loved and respected by all who knew him. He was a man who quietly made a difference in the world around him, and he will be greatly missed.

John is survived by his three children, four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, Arizona.