 |
Joseph V. 'Boots' Deas Pleasant Hill, CA QCWA # 22781 |
Pleasant Hill, Lafayette
Joe "Boots" Deas passed away of heart failure on 9-19-15 at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. He touched many lives with his generosity and upbeat sense of humor. You never heard a more contagious laugh! He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Beryl Deas; devoted children Pam Deas (Ralph Rader) of Danville, Deborah Deas of Martinez, and David Deas (Deborah) of Reno, NV; adoring grandchildren Vincent, Heather, Krista (Sanders), Joseph, and Joshua, and great-grandchildren, Reece, Benjamin, and Jason. Joe is also survived by cousins Elma Nursement, Janet Read, Terrie Lowe, and Jack DeMello; and brother-in-law Stan Flores and 3 sons, Craig, Glen, and Brad & their families. As an admirable role model with a strong work ethic, his spirit, strength, and patience will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Joe was born in Crockett, CA, son of Joseph "Boots the Barber" Deas, Sr., and Louise Rose Deas. He graduated from John Swett High School, where he played basketball and trumpet. He married his high school sweetheart, and lived with his wife and children in Pleasant Hill for 61 years. After serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine, Joe enjoyed a 41-year career with PG&E. He achieved the title of Station Chief, retired in 1985, and started a second career of world traveler. Boots & Beryl traveled widely with The Lighthouse Society, and Elderhostel, covering dozens of American states and Europe, in particular researching genealogy in their families' nations of origin, Wales and The Azores islands off the coast of Portugal. They enjoyed several foreign cruises, and many trips to Hawaii. They also belonged to ballroom and square dancing clubs.
Throughout his life, Joe was a member of Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts, and engaged with friends all over the world as Amateur Radio Operator "K6VLH." For decades, he volunteered with Scout troops, Campfire Girls, Hillcrest Church, his amateur radio club, MDARC, and Mt. Diablo Hospital Cardiac Unit. He enjoyed camping all over California with his family, taking home movies, bicycling into his 80s, his sailboat "HE-VI-JO-KR" (named with first letters of his grandchildrens' names: HEather, VInce, JOe/JOsh, KRista), and delighting all his relatives with gifts of his amazing handmade carpentry crafts, now our most treasured family heirlooms.
Memorial to be held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Church, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. The family suggests friends who wish to pay tribute to Boots make a donation to the church itself, the American Heart Association or the Boy Scouts of America.