On the afternoon of January 16, 2016, Jon passed away at his home in Fallon, Nevada. He was 74 years old. A fifth generation Nevadan, Jon was born in Fallon in November 1941 to Les Vannoy and Olive Davis Vannoy. He was their first and only son. Following the birth of his sister, Lane, two years later, the family moved to Carson City, Nevada, where Jon spent his childhood making a group of life-long friends and eventually graduating from Carson High School in 1959. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for four years. While on leave visiting his cousin Floyd, Jon met and became engaged to Floyd’s sister-in-law, Judy Turley. They married in April of 1963 and had three children, Rene’, Jonathan and Gregory. Jon spent his life pursuing many dreams and interests such as building a sailboat, racing motocross, cultivating an orchard and vineyard, obtaining a Bachelors degree, learning to speak and write Greek, traversing the wilderness of the state of Nevada, voraciously reading on a myriad of subjects, amassing and classifying a large collection of cicadas, chukkar hunting, chuckwagon cooking, writing several books and novels, oil painting and sketching, perfecting his photography skills, packing mules and a variety of other passions. Jon also carried on the family business of Vannoy Homes, a general contracting business. He counted as his most successful endeavor that of being a family man and making certain his wife and children were a part of his adventures and pursuits. A pillar of Jon’s life was his deep religious conviction and spiritual life. He obtained a degree in Theology and served for a time as a minister and a lifetime as a spiritual advisor, counselor and author on religious topics. Jon is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Jonathan, who was called too soon at the young age of 20. He is survived by his wife, Judy Turley Vannoy, his daughter Rene’ Vannoy Hill (John Q. Hill), his son Gregory Vannoy (Rochelle), his sister Lane Baxter Kraemer (Peter) and nephew Mike Baxter, his grandchildren Jayna Hill, Jack Hill, Jayci Hill, Joely Hill, Jonathan Vannoy, and Kate Vannoy. He is also survived by Judy’s sisters, a niece and numerous nephews.
