John Calvin LaMont

26 Feb 1928 – 4 Feb 2023

John was born in Blooming Grove Township on the farm purchased by his 3 ^rd 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 85 ^th Infantry Regiment, 10 ^th Infantry Division (now the 10 ^th 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 3 ^rd Class (equivalent to the rank of Corporal) and earned Expert Infantry Badge, Expert Mortar Badge and Rifle & 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 1970's, 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 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11 ^th 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 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday , February 10 ^th .

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.