Born in Brigham City, Utah January 14, 1956, to Western Shoshone parents Hicks and Neva Brady Darrough and died in Grass Valley, CA January 23, 2024.
John enjoyed the outdoors and shared his outdoor activities with his family whether hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, picnicking, snow sledding and rock climbing. John introduced his daughters Cassandra and Mary at a young age to the joys of hiking, camping, and fishing. John also enjoyed along with his Western Shoshone Family members, their annual Pine Nut Gathering camping trips within their Ancestral Homelands in central Nevada.
After graduation from Hug High, John attended the California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA where he pursued his interests in Photography and the Fine Arts. John also attended the University of Nevada at Reno School System where he studied Journalism, Law, Business, History and Biology.
John enjoyed designing and creating Jewelry especially from Turquoise and Silver. John was also a skilled Silver Engraver and worked for several Engraving companies in the Reno/Sparks areas.
John worked in Housing Construction which included, building the foundations, the framing systems, and the finish carpentry, he completed several Custom Houses in the Reno, Sparks, Lake Tahoe and Truckee, CA areas. John’s love of the outdoors led to his lifelong pursuit of
capturing the “Natural” Life through Photography and illustrated in his “Landscape” Drawings and Paintings. John was a Fine Art Artist and he loved creating drawings and paintings from an early age, an interest that he pursued throughout his lifetime. A major portion of John’s Artwork was focused on the Sierra Nevada Mountains and its lakes and meadows, a special interest of John’s was Lake Tahoe and its surrounding areas.
John loved and was devoted to his mom (Neva Brady Darrough) who passed away at the age of 100 years in 2020. John provided for and made sure that his mom was comfortable at home and whenever they were traveling. John studied the Holy Bible (the Gospel of God) with his mom throughout his lifetime. John understood that we are all “Sinners”, and John always ended his prayers saying: “Have Mercy upon me Father in the Name of your Son Jesus of Nazareth, in spite of who and what I am”.
John is survived by his son James (wife Shelley) of Reno, NV (grandchildren: Marrisah, Raymond, Shalise, William, and Mason; and great-grandchildren: Wyleigh and Dalena);
and daughters Cassandra and Mary of Pyramid Lake, NV. John is also survived by brother Ken of Grass Valley, CA, sisters: Geraldine of Battle Mountain, NV, Darlene Murphy (husband Gabe) of Carson City, NV, Virginia of Reno, NV, Norma of Fernley, NV, and Janice of Rocklin, CA. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents Neva and Hicks, brothers Wesley and Wayne, nieces Monica and Ingrid, and nephews Anthony and Emerson.
John was buried in his Western Shoshone Ancestral Homelands, a Graveside Service was held at Austin, Nevada on February 3, 2024, by his Western Shoshone Family members. We thank Kevin Brady for his Blessed Sermon, and his daughter for her beautiful songs.
John had empathy and compassion for the “Homeless” and the less fortunate people of our world, and we (John’s family) ask that those who remember John, please donate to your local Food Banks or your local Salvation Army Service Centers for the “Homeless”.