Obituary of Gretchen John

Gretchen John August 16, 1957 January 12, 2021 Kinder - Gretchen was the eldest child of Jessie Sylestine Downing and Carl Edward Downing. She attended San Carlos, Arizona and Woodville, Texas public schools. As a teenager, she also spent her summers working at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas’ tourism program. Gretchen was a member of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and was affiliated with the Deer Clan. She married Winston John on August 16, 1973 at the home of Scott and Maddie John and began raising their children: Owen Wade John, Larry John, Terry John, Shana John Harmon and Ross John. Today she has eleven grandchildren that she loved dearly and enjoyed spending as much time as she could with them: Dylan John, Mya Harmon, Natalie John, Ava John, Kenzley John, Madeline John, Holden John, Wyatt John, Colson Harmon, Amery Harmon and Meliza John. Over the years, Gretchen picked up cooking skills from her mother-in-law Maddie and other ladies in the Coushatta Tribal community. She also learned how to make pine needle baskets and spent her spare time making baskets. She enjoyed hosting friends and family at their home and would not let them leave without preparing them a meal. For over twenty years, Gretchen was employed as a Program Coordinator/Receptionist for the Coushatta Tribal Education Department. She would serve as one of the chaperones for Coushatta Tribal youth on field trips, especially to the annual Close-up Conference for Youth in Washington, DC. Gretchen is survived by her children, son Larry John of Kinder, Louisiana; son Terry John of Kinder, Louisiana; daughter and son in law Shana and Thomas Harmon of Kinder, Louisiana; sister, Cheryl Downing of Livingston, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Carla and Filiberto Ramirez of Livingston, Texas, brother, Calvin Wilson of Livingston, Texas, uncle, Charley Sylestine of Livingston, Texas and aunt and uncle, Arlene and Ben Thompson and many cherished family and friends. Gretchen will be escorted to her final resting place at St. Luke’s cemetery by family members and friends Calvin Wilson, Brent Thompson, Caleb Wilson, Filiberto Ramirez, Gerren Downing and Jonathan Cernek. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2PM in Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Joe John officiating. Burial will be at St. Luke’s Cemetery under the direction of Reed Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 12PM-2PM until the time of the service. Condolences may be sent to Reedfuneralhomeofkinder.com