John Trotter Waugh, Sr. Obituary (1949 - 2022)

John Trotter Waugh, Sr. went home to God on June 19, 2022. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father, grandfather and son, charismatic performer and Son of God. He was born in Decatur, Illinois on July 9, 1949 to Helen Louise Phillips and Carl Raymond Waugh, Sr. His siblings were Carla Ray, Violet May Clark, Lucille Pearl Drone (Robert), Carl Raymond Jr., Gwendolyn Sue Niblock (David), Magdolyn Elizabeth Grassi (Robert), James Trenton III (Kathy). John was a performer his whole life: a family gospel group at age 5, Summer Stock, The Music Man with Shirley Jones, Once Upon a Mattress with Carol Burnett, Oliver’s Mr. Bumble, Man of LaMancha’s Sancho Panza with Richard Kiley, various venues around the world and barbershop singing. He served honorably and with distinction in the Marines, graduated from Montana State University with a combine vocal and instrumental degree, and taught public school for 5 years. After years of diligent search for Christ’s church on earth, John received a powerful testimony and joined the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints March 1991. In July 1991 he met the love of his life, Phyllis Jensen Soto. They were married on October 5, 1991 in Henderson, Nevada. Marriage was solemnized on June 6, 1992 in the Las Vegas Nevada LDS Temple. John gladly adopted Phyllis’ daughter, Rebecca, later that summer. Family was everything to John. He adored all his children, Rebecca Gashi (Tommy), Darcy Lynn, Sarah Lee Jones (Brian), Kathlyn Louise, John Trotter, Jr. He and Phyllis loved being grandparents to Rebecca’s wonderful children, Tyrese L’Don Puckett, Tyree Lavell Puckett, Antwun Latrell Puckett, Aaliyah LaNae Puckett and Zoe Jane Gashi. Special memories of pool time, holidays, birthdays, and sleepovers are cherished by all. One of John’s fondest wishes was to reconnect with his other children, grandchildren: Mandee Tuttle (Anthony), Justin Arevalo, Dillon Jones, Smokeyy Jones, George Ourjanian, Shawn Munez, Gabriel Waugh, Nick Chen, California Chen Waugh, Dylan Chen Waugh, and great-grandchildren, Dexter Tuttle, Isaac Tuttle. John and Phyllis had dreams of moving to College Station, Texas to start a new chapter in their lives when John was called home to rest from his labors in the arms of God.