John Murr Culberhouse was born on October 5th, 1931 in Fort Worth Texas to Robert and Kathryn Culberhouse. John grew up in the Fort Worth area with his older brother Robert and sisters Virginia and Mattie. John enjoyed sports especially football, music was another love of John's; he played the steel guitar along with brother Bob and a group of musician friends. They performed on the radio with their country and western music. John decided to join the navy his senior year of high school and finished his high school diploma in the service. He served active duty in the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. John was aboard the USS Ashtabula. John and Shirley enjoyed many navy reunions with John's shipmates over the course of the last 20 years and he remained close to many of the men he served our country with on the Ashtabula. John met Shirley Ann Tiller while on leave in Southern California through a mutual friend. Shirley was a beautiful raven haired girl and was the love of John's life. They married in June of 1956 and settled in the San Gabriel Valley. A true Texas gentleman - John worked hard and provided for his growing family while Shirley was a stay at home mom. John started his own appliance service company in Los Angeles and did commercial refrigeration and repair in the Southern California area from Ventura County to Orange County. Superior Appliance had a small fleet of trucks and service men including Shirley's father Leon and John's brother Bob. John and his family spent many summer and Christmas vacations returning to Texas to see the Culberhouse family. John's children have many happy memories of sharing their father's Texas heritage over the years with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. John remained close to his family and kept the family ties alive even to his last days. His nephews and nieces being very important to him and he loved them like his own children. John and Shirley relocated to Melrose Oregon in 1973 with their four children. Desirous of a quieter lifestyle; John and Shirley bought 20 acres in Melrose and raised their children in the quiet rural community of Melrose. Country life agreed with the Culberhouse Clan and the children thrived. John returned to Southern California to reclaim his business and commuted for many years monthly, he finally returned permanently to reside in Laurelwood on Madrone Street with his family. John started his own refrigeration and appliance repair company in Douglas County in the mid eighties. He contracted out to several of the local appliance stores and soon became the "go to guy" for Whirlpool and appliance repair. John continued to do repair work into his late 70's. The most important thing in John's life was his children and family, he instilled his values with an iron hand but loving heart. He taught his children to work hard and how to use their hands: from changing tires and oil on their vehicles to rebuilding engines or replacing brakes. Cooking, gardening, camping, fishing, riding bikes, building bikes, riding motorcycles and minibikes; running a forklift or a tractor; building and racing dragsters, pulling a horse trailer or driving a motorhome.Learning to swim and dive; the Culberhouse kids and many of their friends learned it from their dad. The neighborhood children would flock over to hang out and do stuff with Mr. Culberhouse. John's love of his children was not lost on the neighbor kids nor his love of animals. John always had some snarly little mutt sitting on his lap. John's love of cars started as a kid, he and his brother worked hard to buy an old roadster when they were teenagers, they fixed it up and drove it all over the countryside of Fort Worth.until they got caught! John built dragsters and raced in the sixties, he had several street racers as well. He finally settled his sights on vintage Volkswagens: all three of the Culberhouse girls drove either vintage bugs or Karman Ghias. His love of Volkswagens has passed on to several of his grandchildren. John was diagnosed in March with invasive adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. He was unable to have any treatment other than palliative care. He spent his remaining days with his beloved wife Shirley at their home in Lookingglass. John had many visitors over the last few months and although he became quite weak he did not suffer much pain. He enjoyed his final days with the people he loved most and got to sit on his deck and enjoy the beauty of the life he helped create around him. John passed away quietly and peacefully at his home on Friday May 23, 2014 in the early afternoon surrounded by his loved ones. Rest in peace Dad, Poppy, Poop, Vern, John C. and probably many other unrepeatable names as well. You have left your loving mark on us all and you will be so missed. John is preceded in death by his parents Robert & Kathryn Culberhouse; Brother Robert, Sister Mattie; Step brothers: Bill Thomas; Leroy Culberhouse and Sister Virginia Baldwin. John is survived by his wife Shirley of Lookingglass, daughter Johnell Weber of Lookingglass OR, daughter Karen Barton of Roseburg OR, daughter Bonnie Mavis of Seattle WA; Son Corey Culberhouse of Lookingglass OR. Nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, 11am, May 31st, 2014 at Vine Street Baptist Church, 2152 NE Vine St. Roseburg, OR. 97470. Reception to follow. Arrangements under the direction of Taylor's Family Chapel, 245 SW Main St. Winston, OR. 97496. In lieu of flowers please make any contributions to The Community Cancer Foundation, 2880 NW Stewart Pkwy, Roseburg OR 97471