John Morris Guest
- Published: June 8, 2026
John Morris Guest, a Yellow Springs native, passed away on April 20, 2026, in Olympia, Washington, just before his 79th birthday. He was a proud member of the YS High School Class of 1965 and returned often to Yellow Springs for class reunions.
He was born in Springfield, Ohio, on May 24, 1947, the son of Echo (Cordell) and Elvin “Mace” Morris Guest. John served his country honorably as a gunner’s mate in the U.S. Navy, from 1974 to 1978, before becoming a machinist with the U.S. Navy Civil Service, working on submarines docked at Mare Island in Vallejo, California. He also worked as an assembler at BOMAG Springfield before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development at Antioch College in 1991. After receiving his degree, he was a dedicated counselor and care provider for clients at Towards Independence and Day-Mont West in Xenia and Dayton. A medical issue, latent since John’s childhood, also flared up during the 1990s, causing John severe headaches and requiring numerous but ultimately ineffective surgeries. Though he experienced debilitating head pain the rest of his life, he learned to deal with it with a wry sense of humor and would respond with his unique laugh and “Well, I’m still here,” when asked how he was doing.
John married his former classmate Ellen Holster in 1986. His beloved daughter, Rebecca, was born in 1987, and she now resides in Eugene, Oregon, along with his granddaughter, Abigail. John is also survived by his stepson, Benjamin Crandall, of Yellow Springs, and his cousin, Martin Cordell, of Olympia, Washington, who was a special help to John when he lived in Hawaii and more recently in Washington. The family is especially grateful to Martin for his support. Other survivors include many other Cordell family members living across the country. John’s younger brother, Robbie, preceded him in death, as did his parents.
John had a passion for cars (he prized his Fiero) and enjoyed model trains, building with Legos and collecting coins and watches, a reflection of his diverse interests and keen eye for detail. Denny’s for breakfast was a lifetime love.
He will be missed greatly by his family and the friends he made while living in Olympia.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. June 20 at Glen Forest Cemetery.
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