John French

John T. French, age 86, of Ross, passed away Thursday morning, March 3, 2022 at Lakeshore Village in Waco.

Funeral Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel in Waco, with Jace Kolar officiating.  The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m Monday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West.

John was born January 10, 1936 in Waco, the son of J.T. and Ruby (Haigood) French, and spent his childhood in West Texas and New Mexico. There he grew to appreciate the rustic, weather-beaten cowboys and Navajo Indians that lived there. He learned about their native lands, traditional ways of life, and their animals.  He was a graduate of Waco Tech High School.  John was united in marriage to Wanda Burns and she preceded him in death on November 21, 1977.  He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force.  John's only art training was self-taught as a child, starting with colored chalk, then water colors, oils, and acrylics. Throughout the ‘60s, he worked as an auto mechanic during the day, and painted in his spare time.  It was around this time that he decided to become a full-time artist and operated John French Western Art for many years.  During this period, he married Donna Schriever  on March 3, 1978 and they resided in Ross.  John enjoyed riding horses, going on trail rides, racing cars, tending to his animals, woodworking, showing his art at Westfest and many other shows, and was an avid Dallas Cowboy Fan. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and going to all their sporting events.  He served on the McLennan County Livestock Show Board and was a founding member of the Waco Longhorn Club and the Ross Volunteer Fire Department.

John’s work was known throughout the United States and most of Europe and Asia. Some of his paintings that are on permanent display can be seen in the International Bank of Japan in Tokyo and the Texas Rangers Museum in Waco. He illustrated the book Women of Texas and he painted the picture from which the poster and bookmark for the National Library Week were made.  One of his paintings is on the cover of the Texas Rangers Museum Catalog book.  He also painted the commemorative painting of the original meeting house of the Texas Farmers Union hanging in the National Office. One of his bluebonnet paintings was presented to the First Lady Rosalynn Carter by the Texas Chapter of MHMR.   He was one of thirty-five western artists chosen nationwide to participate at the Pendleton Round-up Art Show in Oregon. Collectors of his works include well-known politicians, movie stars, professional athletes, coaches, and Arabian dignitaries.

John is also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jeff French; a daughter, Deana French; and brothers, Sammy and Lanny French.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 44 years, Donna French of Ross; a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Jeremy Kolar of Abbott; his grandchildren, Jace Kolar and fiance Victoria Gordon, and Jocelyn Kolar; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Texas Lion's Camp for Special Needs Children, 4100 San Antonio Highway, Kerrville, Texas 78028.