William Johnny Ashford, 82

William Johnny Ashford, 82, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Viewing will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at Whispering Pines Cemetery in Sagle.

Johnny was born on Feb. 3, 1934, in Bells, Texas, to Wilbur and Birdie Ashford. He grew up on the family farm in Van Alstyne, Texas.

He married Mary Skelton on Aug. 9, 1952, in Sher-man, Texas, and they had three daughters before divorcing. During that time he worked as a mechanic and could fix anything. He had a short marriage to Marcella Dethloff in Seattle and they had two daughters.

Johnny married Linda Donaldson on Dec. 2, 1967, in Lovelock, Nev. In Nevada he worked as an automotive mechanic. He then moved back to Van Alstyne, Texas, and did farming and owned a service/towing station with his brother, Donald. He retired in 1999 and they moved to Kingman, Ariz., in 2003. In 2011, he and Linda moved to Sagle, Idaho, so he could do more of the things he enjoyed.

He loved horses, dogs, auto mechanics, driving demolition cars, fishing, hunting, and camping; but most of all he loved his family.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Ashford of Sagle; four daughters, Shirley O’Neill of Lompoc, Calif., Kathy (Rick) Ruport of Peoria, Ariz., Jodie Reed of Tempe, Ariz., and Regina (Roger) Young of Sagle; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Pat (Steve) Elliott of Sherman, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald Ashford; a daughter, Joyce (Holt) Hamilton; a grandson, Robert Dorman; a granddaughter, Teresa Harlow; and a son-in-law, Rob Reed.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Johnny’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.