John M Garvey

July 18, 1944 - February 25, 2017

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in John's memory to Step 13 (http://www.step13.org), Denver Rescue Mission (https://www.denverrescuemission.org) or Homes for Our Troops (https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/HomesforOurTroops). Rather upsets a man's day a funeral does." -- James Joyce, Ulysses. John Martin Garvey, 72, shuffled off this mortal coil on February 25, 2017, after a brief illness. John was born on July 18, 1944, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Thomas Donald "T.D." and Catherine (Mitchell) Garvey, both preceding him in death. John left Louisiana when he was drafted in 1966, and proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While stationed in Germany, John met his future ex-wife Helene (Donaldson) and represented the United States during the early stages of the Paris Peace Accords. Honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant in 1969, John remained abroad, exploring Europe for several months—from skiing the slopes of Switzerland to sleeping on the beaches of Greece. Thus began his lifelong love of travel. John and Helene settled in Landing, New Jersey, where they raised twin boys Martin and Timothy before moving to Colorado in the late 1980s. While in New Jersey, John graduated from Montclair State University and studied at the New York School of Holography. Thereafter, John worked as a professional ski writer before becoming an award-winning technical writer in the telecommunications field. Throughout his life, John was an avid reader, a prolific painter, an accomplished bowler, and a die-hard baseball fan (bleeding Dodger Blue and eventually Rockies Purple). John is survived by son Martin Garvey and his wife Katherine; son Timothy Garvey and his wife Jodie Kranz; granddaughter Sydney DeVault-Garvey; grandsons Angus, Brooks, and Ross Garvey; brothers James Mitchell "Mitch" Garvey and Jerome Garvey; and many friends—all of whom will remember him for his intelligence, his compassion, and (to be truthful) his stubbornness. A military burial service for John will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area C, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, Colorado, on Friday, March 10, 2017, at 1:15 pm, with a reception to follow from 2:30–5:00 pm at Hefelbower Funeral Services, 8955 S. Ridgeline Blvd. #100, Littleton, Colorado. Military Honors by the United States Army. Family and friends gather at Staging area C. Reception following at Heflebower Funeral Services, 8955 S. Ridgeline Blvd. Ste. 100, Highlands Ranch CO 80129.