(Big) John Welton Cummings

John Welton Cumniings entered the gentle slumber of heavenly sleep on Dec. 15, 2007. He entered into life in Gilmer, Texas on Feb. 12, 1927, as the seventh of 10 children of Sammie and Beulah Cummings. After the untimely death of his parents at the age of 12, he went to live with relatives Zephyr and Walter White in Richmond, Calif.

He enlisted in the Army in 1950 and saw action in the Korean War as an infantryman where he earned two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and one Silver Star. He was later discharged in 1963. He married Darlene Williams in 1957 from which one daughter, Lenora, was welcomed. The marriage ended in 1960.

John worked for several years as a cook at the University of Berkeley before moving to Moses Lake in pursuit of his favorite pastime fishing. John also worked as a construction laborer for several years in Moses Lake.

It was there that he met the love of his life Yvonne. They courted for years, finally getting married on July 31, 2002. They raised two twin children together as foster parents, Alex and Alexia Yearout.

John is survived by two brothers, Sammie and Hardie Cummings of Richmond, Calif., as well as a sister, Anna of Muskogee, Okla.

John would like to be remembered laughing with glee on the fish bank as he pulled in one blue gill and crappie after the other and for his famous barbeques. He was a kind and gentle man always ready to help a friend in need and was very instrumental in establishing the first food bank in Moses Lake working tirelessly as a volunteer. He will be sorely missed by his friends and family who he loved unconditionally.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, at Kayser's Chapel of Memories with Rev. Jerry Jones officiating. Viewing will take place at the funeral home on Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.

Friends and family are invited to join the family at a luncheon celebrating John's life following the ceremony.