John Lester Jolley

John Lester Jolley, 83, of Bradenton, FL, passed away on July 25, 2026, helping others until the very end. John was born in La Harpe, Illinois on July 15, 1943 to Ray and Mildred Jolley. 

He dedicated his life to his wife, Joyce (Foster) Jolley, whom he loved dearly and married on December 17, 1961, and to their three children Jerry, Julie, and Janet. John spent 45 years with Sherwin-Williams, serving in various roles in credit and acquisitions. After retiring in 2007, he embraced every opportunity to spend time with family and friends, with whom he shared a warmth and humor that cannot easily be forgotten. 

John had a rare gift for making everyone feel like family and had a generosity that knew no bounds. Whether he was delivering a meal to a neighbor or offering a home repair, he never hesitated to help. John was always up for a game; golf, pickleball, cards, of which he especially had a knack for bending the rules, always with a smile.

 He also held a special appreciation for two things: the American Bald Eagle and a good meal. If you cooked for him, you could always count on hearing how much he loved it. Later in life, John discovered his passion for making “Fast Track” boards, a game he and Joyce loved sharing with anyone willing to play. He poured countless hours of love and craftsmanship into creating beautiful wooden boards for friends and family. Those gifts will remain a lasting reminder of the care, generosity, and joy he brought to everything he did. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, and neighbor whose gentle spirit left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. 

He will be missed beyond words. John is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Joyce Jolley; his son Jerry Jolley, and his wife, Priscilla Jolley; his daughter, Julie Freese, and her husband, Russell Freese; his daughter, Janet Deker, and her husband, Wayne Deker; his grandchildren, Alexa West, Veronica Jolley, Bryan Ramirez, Christopher Ramirez, Rachael Ryan, Zach Freese, Alec Deker, and Taylor Deker; his sister, Janice Bice; six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Mildred Jolley, and his sister, Barbara Retting.