John Russell Fulton
Nov. 9, 1941 – Nov. 12, 2016

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – John was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, to John Ray Fulton and Martha Marshall Fulton.

The family moved to Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California in 1950. John played football and was a weight lifter in high school, graduating from Reseda High School.

He worked for a professional landscape company prior to going into the U.S. Air Force for four years. He served two years in the Air Force Reserve and four years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was always a patriot and loved the United States of America. He lived to see his 75th birthday and one more Veterans Day.

His hobbies were motorcycling, camping, building engines for his Toyota Land Cruisers and four-wheeling for several years.

He and wife Melissa were charter members in the Toyota Land Cruiser Association, starting the Ventura County Chapter; the organization has grown to be worldwide.

They spent many hundreds of miles four- wheeling in the Sierras, southern desert areas and made several trips to the Rubicon Trail in the Tahoe area.

John and Melissa were married in 1970 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. John adopted Melissa’s children Mark and Dianna in 1971. While living in central Oregon in the early 1970s John was a police officer for the Prineville Police Department and a deputy sheriff for Madras County.

Returning to Southern California in 1974, John worked as an auto mechanic and a service writer for Barber Ford in Ventura before turning to commercial fishing for four years for sea urchins in his boat the Sea Lion off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara. His next career was in construction beginning in 1982.

John and Melissa moved to Lakeport in January 1989 not knowing anyone but their real estate lady. He continued as a contractor, joining the (then) Lakeport Chamber of Commerce in March 1989.  Through his work and the chamber, John and Melissa soon became very involved in the community.

He was always there to help the love of his life with the next project, whether it be a honey do list around the house, setting up a street fair for the chamber, helping her with a garden display at the county fair or building a display for the Lake County State Fair exhibit in Sacramento, he was ready and willing with truck, trailer and tools.

He joined the Lake County Rodeo Association in 1991, serving as president for four years and was recognized as Grand Marshall in 2012. He was a member of the Konocti Rod & Gun Club also since 1991, and served in various capacities including several years as president.

He and Melissa were avid motorcycle riders for many years (Harleys of course) and made many friends through their ABATE Chapter.

A major construction project was the building of the Clear Lake Queen paddle wheel boat that was launched on Clear Lake in 1996. He also worked on several buildings in downtown Lakeport and around the county. John retired from construction in 2011 due to health issues that began in late 2004.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Martha Fulton. He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Melissa; brother, Tom Fulton (Jayne) of Mesquite, Nev.; sister, Carolyn Cube (Al) of Pinellas Park, Fla.; daughter, Donna Brouett from his first marriage; son, Mark Fulton (Sonja) and daughter Dianna Hendrick (Raywood).

John leaves 10 beloved grandchildren, Brooke Brouett, Brody Brouett, Joshua Fulton, Kyle (Keyonna) Fulton, Roseanne Stolz, Diane Darbee, CJ (Karlee) Eddy, Chris (Carrie) Eddy, Eli (Melissa) Hendrick, Melissa (Art) Figueroa. He also leaves 14 great-grandchildren, Noah and Hannah Hendrick; Sam and Marcus Figueroa; Ryder, Cannon and Arrow Fulton; Shawn Fulton; Lexi, Ashton, Jaycee, Maeson and Benjamin Eddy; and Callista Darbee. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport. A celebration of life will take place following the service at the fairgrounds in Lakeport in the Theater Building.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .