Johnny Arthur Florez

Johnny Arthur Florez (John)

May 5, 1949-Janurary 25, 2026

John was born to Manuel and Lucy (Armendariz) Florez on May 5, 1949, their first child. John attended school in Sugar City and graduated from Crowley County High School in 1967. He served his county during the Vietnam War.

John was a member of the 1965 Championship baseball team for CCHS. As a sophomore his positions were pitcher and right field. He was named MVP by Coach Hancock that year.

During his youth, he worked various local jobs, including the La Junta pickle and tomato plant, the Cheraw turkey farm, as well as one of the final campaigns of the National Sugar Factory. John worked on local farms and ranches, notably for EB Rogers at the McConnell ranch north of Sugar City.

John enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1967, having volunteered for service. His Basic Training was at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, then followed by AIT at Fort Devens, MA. While at Fort Leonard Wood, he trained for Infantry and Jungle Tactics during the winter of 1967. At Fort Devins he received advanced training in Morse Code and Classified Signal Intelligence. John served in Vietnam from 1968-1969, arriving at the end of the Tet Offensive and began service with the ASA, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in the An Loc area of the Binh Long Province. He was stationed in Korea from 1969-1970 and Okinawa from 1970-1971, serving in the Army Security Agency, Cold War Intelligence Unit.

He received a Bronze Star for Gallantry during Operation Sheridan Sabre, in which elements of the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment (RRU), blocked ARNV forces, securing operations and protecting critical areas following the Tet Offensive. 

John attended Colorado University at Boulder after his military discharge. He worked for Burlington Northern in Nebraska, the City of Phoenix, and the Salvation Army in Los Angeles. He was a jack of all trades in all areas of construction, small business, and computer science. He had a keen interest in computers and technology. He loved youth sports and watching the activities of his niece and nephews, as well as young cousins. He had a sharp sense of humor and always had a witty comeback. He loved animals, especially hybrid roosters and cats. John had a green thumb and loved horticulture and gardening.

John liked travel and adventures and traveled across the U.S. He had the courage and conviction to stand up for his beliefs. He loved his family and always returned to his little hometown to be with them. It is the hope of his family that he will be remembered with love, happiness, and a bit of the humor he brought to us all.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Arthur Lewis, and Tony Florez, grandparents and favored aunts and uncles.

John is survived by his brothers Michael Florez and Thomas Florez, sister Patricia Florez, niece Lesley (Brandon Kelley) Slocum, nephews Wesley Slocum and Christopher (Lacy) Slocum, great-niece Maizy Jane, and great-nephew Maximus Ryan.

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