John Denault passed away peacefully at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, CA on October 10, 2024 at the age of 87 with family at his bedside. He battled Myelodysplastic Syndrome, and even this strong man was not able to recover after falling and breaking a hip. John was the eldest child of Blanche K Spear and John Denault, Sr. He was born August 31, 1937 in the shadow of Mount Whitney in Lone Pine, CA. He is preceded in death by his sister, Caroline Kubic, of Lincoln, NE and brother, Bill Denault, of Bishop, CA. Growing up in Bishop, John was an avid fisherman and sportsman: fishing on Lake Sabrina with his father, he was on the wrestling team, ran track and field, played football and was on the Mammoth Mountain Ski team coached by Dave McCoy. After graduating from Bishop Union HS in 1955, he moved to Ventura, CA where he met his first wife, Linda Ann Been, and had two children: John Denault III, and Erin Stephanie Denault. They lived in Venice, CA where he worked for General Telephone and Hughes Aircraft in the human resource department before returning to Mammoth Mountain as the Human Resources Director. While on the mountain he met the love of his life, Betty Friel, who had three children prior to their meeting: Bill, Tricia, and Michael Friel. Their families joined together when John and Betty married at Mammoth Mountain Inn in 1992. John also worked as HR director for the Grand Canyon. In retirement, they moved to Betty’s home in Newbury Park, CA where they enjoyed a very active life surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all the while designing, manufacturing, and selling The Wheelbarrow Liner. They relished frequent trips to Hawaii visiting family. We were honored to hold his hand as he took his last breath. John is survived by his wife Betty, children John (Nancy) Denault III and Erin (James) Denault Dion, Bill (Kristen) Friel, Tricia (Manny) Asaderian, and Micheal (Brianne) Friel and sister-in-law Michelle Denault. Grandchildren Jenny, Griffen, Callum, Hilary, Zoe, Amber, Manny, Marisa, Hayley, Sheadyn, Chase, Lilikoi and Liam and great-grandchildren Jacob, Kailia and Kahealani. Graveside services will be held at East Line Street cemetery in Bishop.