John Robert Callery, Sr.
Life Well Lived
John Robert Callery, son of the late William R. Callery Sr. and Margurite B. Callery was born on April 5, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio. John was called to be with the Lord on November 25, 2024, he was 79 years young in heart, spirit and mind. He was raised in Cincinnati by his mother, a renowned businesswomen and local schoolteacher, and father a respected Realtor. His parents deeply rooted John in the church from a very young age. John’s faith anchored him and guided him through his entire life. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and continued his education at the University of Dayton, receiving his Master’s degree in Finance and Accounting. John was sponsored by the National Bankers Association and trained at 5/3 Bank head office. He was selected to be a bank manager for Unity State Bank a black bank in Dayton, Ohio. John took an opportunity with NCR, where he was a part of developing the first Automated Teller Machine and financial softwares from NCR. After his tenure at NCR, John established his accounting practice geared to help his community with their taxes and finances. John was never one to sit very long searching for new ways to impact his community. He made the bold move to leave Ohio and move to the San Diego which he fell in love with during a business trip with NCR. John followed his father's footsteps and became a realtor to help fulfill peoples dream of home ownership.
During his time in college he found the love of his life, Ms. Ethel Turner, and were married August 15, 1970. John and Ethel built a beautiful relationship together and spent many years with their best friends, Greg and Carenthia, and Pat and Clark before starting their family. John and Ethel were blessed with two boys John Jr. and Chris. They strived to set a strong example and guide their boys deeply rooted in the church and education. John passed on his love of sports, and his passion and drive, spending his time teaching techniques and skills for both life and sports. Both boys grew to be exemplary men following their father's example.
John’s love and passion for his community was evident throughout his life in how he directly impacted his community. John was an inactive PHA mason, a coach, member of the Involved Men of Oceanside, has been a deacon in multiple churches, as well as lending his expertise in accounting and finance to churches he attended. John pushed education as his way to better the community organizing scholarship drives for high school and college students pursuing a brighter furture.
John’s life left an indelible print upon us. The many nuggets of wisdom and love he shared will help guide us throughout the rest of our days, painting an image of warm memories to all the lives he was blessed to touch. Which is the true measure of a man.
JOHN ROBERT CALLERY
God saw John getting tired,
and a cure was not to be found.
He wrapped John in his loving arms
and whispered “come with me.”
John suffered so much in silence,
his spirit did not bend.
John faced his pain with courage,
until the very end.
John tried so hard to stay with us
but his fight was not in vain,
God took John to his loving home
and freed him from all pain.