John Martin Begley

John Martin Begley, 62, of Grants Pass died unexpectedly at home on Sat., April 17, 2015.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Fri. May 1 at 6:00 pm at River Valley Church, Redwood Campus, 2193 Midway Ave., Grants Pass.

A native of Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, he was born on Nov. 3, 1952, the son of the late Brendan Begley and the late Mary Lynch Begley of Ballinabuck, County Kerry, Ireland.

Gaelic was his first language and he grew up in a very musical family, where he learned to play the melodeon and sing traditional Gaelic songs. Growing up he loved sports and played hurling and soccer. He graduated from an Agriculture Course with 1st Class Honours at the Franciscan Agricultural College, Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath in 1971 and served as a Garda in the City of Dublin in 1980 before joining the Irish Army where his latest posting was as Military Police on the Naval Base on Haulbowlin, County Cork. He also served on two Peace Keeping tours to Lebanon and played rugby for the Army. He loved cycling, swimming, going out on the ocean in his currach, playing the 'squeezebox' and singing. In both Ireland and Oregon John enjoyed participating in the Christian community.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Trettin Begley, whom he married May 23, 1992 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They settled in Grants Pass in 1994 where John worked in the timber industry, did dairy work, truck driving and of late landscape maintenance.

John is also survived by one son, Raymond Begley of Escondido, Calif.; daughter, Sasha Begley of Seattle, Wash.; one granddaughter, Evelyn Begley of Escondido, Calif; five sisters, Maire Begley O’Shea, Eileen Loughnane, Seosaimhin, Caitlin and Bride N Bheaglaoch and three brothers, James, Michael and Brendan Begley, all residing in Ireland; along with 24 nieces and nephews.