JOHN CALVIN LAMONT
John was born in Blooming Grove Township on the farm purchased by his third great-grandfather John Wesley Morgan in 1837 (the farm received the Hoosier Homestead Award in 1976). He was the only child of John Scott LaMont and Alva Mae Chambers. As a young man, he was active in 4-H for 11 years and received many awards including being chosen by the Indiana State Fair Board to serve as a delegate to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago. He was also a member of the Franklin County Rural Youth and served as president in 1951. He graduated from Brookville High School in 1947 and was a member of the band and FFA.
On June 2, 1954, he was married to Betty Eileen Jones of Fayette County. She passed in 1996. A special friend, Charlene Raver Reidenbach, also preceded him in 2017.
John served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957 with the 85th Infantry Regiment, 10th Infantry Division (now the 10th Mountain Division). He served as a liaison specialist in the Heavy Mortar Company. Taking basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas, he was sent to Bamberg, Germany. He was a Specialist 3rd Class (equivalent to the rank of Corporal) and earned Expert Infantry Badge, Expert Mortar Badge and Rifle and Pistol Badges.
After the army, he returned to Blooming Grove Township where he spent the majority of his life.
He retired from Roots Blower in 1991 after 30 years and is member of their Century Club.
During the 1970s, he and Betty operated a Rock Shop in Metamora (where caning chairs also took place) then sold it to be dealers in Gem and Mineral shows throughout the Midwest, and once in a while beyond. As a “friend of 4-H,” he supplied trophies for Geology for several years in both Franklin and Fayette counties.
John was a longtime member of the Eastern Indiana Gem & Geological Society, Farm Bureau member and has a lifetime membership in the Whitewater Valley Railroad Association. He was a lifetime member of the former Blooming Grove Methodist Church; a former member of the Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Blooming Grove Boys 4-H Leader and Blooming Grove Community Association.
He enjoyed traveling, garden and yard work, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include:
Son: Steven LaMont and Karen (Martin)
Their children: Sean LaMont and Carie (Bernhard) and their children Elena LaMont and Ian LaMont; Justin LaMont and Alicia (Bontrager) and his daughter Lillian LaMont; Jennifer (LaMont) and Thomas Booker; Darin LaMont and Jeri (Grevis) and their children Gabriella LaMont and Carson LaMont.
Son: Kenneth LaMont and Stephanie (Flaspohler)
Their Children: Denise; Mackenzie LaMont and Whitney (Smith) and their child Finnegan LaMont.
Son: Gene LaMont and the late Robin (Peters)
Their Children: son Jonathan LaMont and his children; Ciara LaMont and Deshaun Talbert and their daughter Leilani Talbert; Caden LaMont; Lainee LaMont; Jaxon LaMont; daughter Elizabeth LaMont and her children Shaylin Brown; Nolan Brown.
Special friends and grandchildren Dale Reidenbach, Darin Reidenbach, Deb (Greg) Reid; and their children.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home ~ 929 Main Street Brookville followed by burial in Maple Grove Cemetery. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by Bernard Hurst Post # 77. Friends may visit from 4 – 7 p.m. on Friday, February 10.
Memorial contributions may be made to Franklin County EMS, American Cancer Society, or Eastern Indiana Gem and Geological Society.
To send condolences or sign the online guestbook go to, www.cookrosenberger.com. Cook Rosenberger Staff is honored to serve John’s Family.