John Harrison Happy, Jr.

John Harrison Happy, Jr.

May 3, 1930 – May 2, 2026, 95 yrs old

John Happy Jr’s grandfather, Cyrus Happy Sr., a successful lawyer, traveled from Illinois to Spokane in 1891. John’s father, John H Happy, Sr., a Spokane native, was born in 1895. John’s dad started his own insurance agency and became a Washington State senator in 1946 and remained in that elected office until his death in 1962. Like his father before him, John, Jr., went to Roosevelt Elementary School and Lewis and Clark High School, graduating from high school in 1947. His father offered him the opportunity to go to Harvard but John Jr. decided on the University of Washington, his father’s alma mater. While attending college he joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, joined the Navy ROTC and began dating Joann Thackston of Port Orchard, WA, who would be his wife for 68 years, until her death in 2021. John graduated from the UW in 1951 with a business degree and a naval commission as an ensign. Before he married his college sweetheart, John served on the USS Kennebec and on the USS Banner during the Korean conflict. He joined his father in the insurance agency in 1953. The agency was renamed to John H Happy and Son. John was a successful insurance agent for 33 years and was the City of Spokane’s first risk manager for 7 years. On July 25, 1953, he married Joann. John’s first child, John Happy III, was born in 1954. Gayle, his second, was born in 1955 and Jeff, his third, was born in 1960.  Gayle died of cancer in 2016. John and Joann spent the first 15 years of their married life living near Cliff Park, just a few houses away from where he grew up. In 1966, they moved their family to the Glenrose area where they built a house next to the Spokane Racquet Club. Joann and John moved to Rockwood Forest Estates in August of 2002. John wrote fondly of his childhood experience, with many other kids his age, who spent a lot of time with George Libby. To most, George was a notable photographer. To John he was that and a generous man who took kids on hikes, taught them to safely shoot a 22, and had a youth camp on Liberty Lake and, later, Arrow Boys Camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene.  Mr. Libby was also scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troup 45. John ‘graduated’ from scouting as an eagle scout with silver palm and 36 merit badges. His family fondly remembers hiking mountain trails, his love for Hawaii, camping on Mosquito Bay, visiting with friends on Hayden Lake, golfing with grandma, Christmas trips to grandma’s house in Port Orchard and a lot of time at the Spokane Racquet club often seeing John running tennis tournaments.

John made some lifelong friends during his school years and navy years. He outlived most of them but spoke of them often to his children. He very fondly remembers his childhood and raising his own family in the Cliff Park / Wall Street area of the South Hill. John’s family, past and present, was very involved in playing and promoting tennis. Family members were instrumental in forming the Spokane Tennis Club in the early and mid-1900’s. John Jr was a founding member of the Spokane Racquet Club in 1961 as was his very dear friend, Don Neraas. He finally gave up the sport at 90 years of age blaming balance issues. John would proudly tell you of raising his three children; John Happy III, Gayle Happy and Jeff Happy. He would also tell you of how blessed he has been because of his foster daughter, Sue Chapin (Svacek) and her husband, Paul. If you had a lot more time to listen, he would tell you how awesome his god children are: Julie Neraas, David Gaiser, Robert Dewey and Laura Utter.

John Jr., is survived by lots of people who loved and respected him; by his sons, John Happy III (Theresa) and Jeff Happy. By his grandchildren, Anna Randall (Matt), Jamie Garbien (Paul), John Dehn (Alyse) and Christopher Happy. By his great grandchildren, Aaron Randall, Noelle Randall, David Dehn, Billy Dehn, Abby Garbien and Dane Garbien.  Preceding him in death was his wife, Joann, daughter, Gayle Dehn (Starr) and sister, Marcia.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Rockwood Retirement Community (South Hill) event center at 2PM on Saturday, June 13^th. Get there early because parking is limited as is the size of the room. 

If you would like to make a donation in remembrance of him, please send it to:

Life River Fellowship – Food Bank (www.liferiver.org/give.html)