JOHN WILLIAM HUFF Jan. 25, 1968 – Sept. 30, 2024
John William Huff, 56, of Jemez Springs, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on September 30, 2024, while working in Eastern Texas. John, or Johnny as many knew him, was born on January 25, 1968, in El Paso, Texas.
Sometime during his high school years at Los Alamos High School, Johnny briefly met Tania Edgett, yet their paths didn’t cross again until later. After graduating high school in 1986, Johnny met Tania again and then married her in October 1996 at Camp May. Johnny and Tania began building their home themselves in the Jemez with the help of Johnny’s dad Charles. Johnny and Tania had a son, Arleigh Vaughn in 2001 and a daughter Isabel Katherine in 2003.
Johnny had a passion for the restoration of all things with wheels. He loved working on his project vehicles which included, but was not limited to, Internationals, Ford pickup trucks, the kids’ four wheelers, and his son’s dirt bikes. Johnny worked at La Cueva Automotive with his best friend, Martin Crane. They were known to decide on a Friday at 5pm to go on a turn and burn road trip at the crack of dawn the next day to pick up wheeled things to eventually restore. Many of those wheeled things are still waiting for restoration.
Professionally, Johnny was a skilled heavy equipment operator/mechanic, a welder, and was a lifelong automotive mechanic. His last employer had him operating heavy equipment and welding to build and repair road and interstate infrastructure nationwide.
Johnny was preceded in death by his grandfather, John Arleigh Huff, his father Charles Fremont Huff and his son Arleigh Vaughn Huff.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Tania, their daughter Isabel and granddaughter Victoria-Vaughn Huff, his mother Mary Katherine Huff, his sister Maria (Martin) Gair and their two sons Max and Ian. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Heidi-Rose (Roger) McFadden and their children Monika-Rose and John, and Bettina Edgett and her daughters Eva and Ella. In addition, he is survived by his cousins Suzanne (Lee) Leverich and David Jaqua, his bonus family of Martin and Diane Crane and their sons Justin and Ryan, as well as his neighbors Trina and Jenny Failla, his two older daughters Antonia and Chelsea and their children, and his many, many friends.
Johnny had a huge heart, both figuratively and literally. The countless memories we will hold so dearly include the many times Johnny would selflessly help those in need. From helping neighbors get their vehicles unstuck during the winter months, to hatching a chicken egg in his armpit that resulted in “Mr. Huff” who is still laying eggs to this day, and rescuing dogs and cats to add to the menagerie at the house much to Tania’s chagrin.
His outward gruff appearance often hid his tender love for all animals and his dry sense of humor. He was quick with a joke and made sure everyone was laughing before joining in the laughter.
Johnny was enamored with his granddaughter V-V and enjoyed being her Papa J. He loved his family and friends fiercely and his passing leaves a very big hole in all their hearts that will never be filled.
A private celebration of life for close friends and family will be at 2 PM, on October 20, 2024, in the meadow at the Crane residence in Rancho de La Cueva. Please bring a dish, a chair and stories to share.
An interment service will be held in Boerne, Texas at a later date, as Johnny wished to be laid to rest in his family’s plot.