John Hall Lindsey, Jr

JOHN H. LINDSEY, JR. July 29, 1938 - November 2, 2017 John Hall Lindsey, Jr. passed away Thursday, November 2, 2017 at his home in Vancouver, Washington after a lengthy illness. He was 79 years old. He was born July 29, 1938 in Malvern, Arkansas, the son of John H. Lindsey, Sr. and Frances Jeanette (Stuart) Lindsey. The family then moved to Russellville, Arkansas, where John and his sister Mary Stuart grew up. After graduating from Russellville High School in 1956, he attended Oklahoma State University. While working as dormitory counselors, John met his future wife, Renetta Harms, and they were married in 1962. The couple first lived in Utah, where he received a BS in Business in 1964, and then later in California, where he earned an MBA from USC in 1968. John worked in the computer industry from its early days, becoming a Data Base Administrator and Systems Project Manager, and eventually an entrepreneur and businessman. When they retired, John and Renetta settled in the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family in 2001. In his free time John pursued a life-long passion for fly fishing and fly tying, while fishing water bodies from Florida to Alaska. As a child he was taught to fish in the Ozarks by his grandparents, as well as his father and mother, who were both fishing derby winners. In his teenage years John sold hand-made flies and popping bugs to finance his education. Decades later, on October 20, 2000, he was visiting the Texas Panhandle and decided to fish nearby Lake Meredith. Using a popping bug hed originated in 1955, John caught Rosie, a 14.14-pound largemouth bass on a fly rod with a 6-pound tippet. He donated Rosie alive to the Texas ShareLunker Program for research and breeding. His catch earned the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) fly rod world record, which he held at the time of his death. John loved inspiring other fishermanespecially families and childrenwith the story of Rosie. He spoke and demonstrated fly tying at numerous schools, fly fishing clubs and sportsmen shows. In 2016 he realized a long-held dream when he published Big Bass Fly Fishing on Topwater: A Field Guide, the only instructional book written by an IGFA world record holder. John was a large man, both in stature and personality. He was a born storyteller, entertainer, jokester and debaterwith family, friends and strangers alike. John had an impressive intellect and imagination, but more importantly, he had the courage to take big risks to bring his visions to fruition. Although he didnt always succeed, he was true to himself and lived on his own terms. Johns world was really his wife and family; his grandchildren were the delight of his life. He ended his journey at peace with himself, his family and his faith. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Renetta Lindsey; daughter Sabra Lindsey; daughter Lemecia Lindsey and son-in-law John Tollefson; son Lance Lindsey and daughter-in-law Hilary Lindsey; grandchildren Nick, Chris, Silas, Willow, Scott and Megan; sister Mary S. Lindsey and brother-in-law Bob Burns. A Memorial Service will be held November 18, 2017 at Cascades Presbyterian Church at 1:00, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Fair Oaks Estates Clubhouse from 3:00-4:00. Memorial donations can be made in his name to flyfishersinternational.org, and condolences given to the family at evergreenmemorialgardens.com.