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John R. Buell, 73, of Eureka, passed away on July 18, 2022. He was born to parents John and Louise Buell, on July 11, 1949 in Ohio. He moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was nine years old. As John grew up, he attended LaHabra High School, graduating in 1967. He married his high school sweetheart, Gretchen Scholl in 1969 and they moved to Humboldt County in 1970. Together they had their two children, Heather and Shawn, who were raised in Eureka. Although John and Gretchen divorced after 20 years of marriage, they remained very close friends, sharing holidays with their families and enjoying time with their grandchildren.

John was very involved in his children’s lives and loved supporting other kids in the community. One major way John contributed to the greater Humboldt community was through volunteering for service organizations. John was a 4-H leader for several years, teaching a woodworking class where kids learned to make a birdhouse, tool caddy and bookends. In addition he shared his love of candy making and taught a very popular chocolates class, where 4-H students learned to make their favorite chocolate treats. John was also very involved with the Boy Scouts of America, where he served as den leader, Webelos leader, assistant Cubmaster and Cubmaster for Pack 28 in Cutten. John was also vice-president for membership and the vice-president for Cub scouting with the Redwood Area Council for several years. John earned the Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit representing the Humboldt Bay area in 1989.

To support his family and share his many talents, John worked as a Professional Picture Framer for 36 years, opening Affordable Frames in 1977, with his mother-in-law Peggy Davis. They made a great team and worked with many amazing Humboldt County artists. Peggy and John worked together until her passing in 1988, John then carried on the legacy and eventually moved the frame shop to Henderson Center. Affordable Frames was open for 36 years, closing in May of 2013. After closing Affordable Frames, John worked several years as one of the managers at the cafeteria at Humboldt State University. He loved working with the students and getting to know each and every student that came through the cashier line. He learned the student’s names and loved how they shared their stories with him. He retired from HSU at the end of 2020.

While owning Affordable Frames John became very involved with Old Town Rotary. He loved working closely with other Rotarians to help the community and promote goodwill on a global scale. During the 12 years he was involved with Rotary he was elected, and spent a year, as the president of Old Town Rotary. It was such an honor for John to lead this great group of community business leaders. One of his most inspiring moments was shaving his head to support and encourage donations for a local Rotary fundraiser! John found purpose, community and camaraderie in his time with Old Town Rotary.

John loved to hike around the local redwood forests as well as explore the National Parks. He had a passion for working to help save the forests for future generations, donating to Sierra Club, the Arbor Day Foundation and many other organizations. John loved to share his love of the redwood forest, he demonstrated this by taking his grandchildren on many hikes through our local forests, always stopping for an ice cream treat on the way home! He always knew how to make memories and instill his values in his children and family.

John is survived by his daughter, Heather Becksted and her husband Aaron; his son, Shawn Buell, and his grandchildren, Blaine Becksted, Jared Nolen, Kyler Becksted, Caitlyn Nolen and Luke Becksted. John and his youngest grandson, Luke, shared a birthday and celebrated the last 14 years together as “birthday bros.” John’s children, grandchildren and extended family will all miss his wonderful hugs, his smile and laughter, and his ability to make them each feel like they were the most important person in his life.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Louise Buell; David Buell, his younger brother; and Peggy Davis, his mother-in-law and business partner.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Eureka Women’s Club. The family would love to invite all friends, co-workers and acquaintances of John, to join them in sharing in the celebration of his well-lived life.

The obituary above was submitted by John Buell’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

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