John Francis Tarrant Print E-mail

John Francis Tarrant

 
Decorated WWII Navy veteran, 94

 John Francis Tarrant, 94, of Carefree, Arizona, formerly of Lowell, Massachusetts and Sun City Center, Florida entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 14th at Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center in Scottsdale. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary Theresa (Shanahan) Tarrant who died in 2006.
    Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, September 15, 1921, a son of the late James Joseph and the late Mary Christine (Moran) Tarrant, he attended Haverhill schools and was a graduate of St. James Catholic High School. Eager to further his education, following his Honorable Discharge from the military, he went on to graduate from Burdett College in Boston with the Class of 1947.
    A veteran of World War II, John proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a Pharmacist’s Mate First Class and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, the American Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9 stars).
    After many years with the General Electric Company in Lowell, he joined the Internal Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury. In 1965, he was assigned to the Lowell office as an Auditor. John retired from the IRS in 1982 as Chief, Compliance Division, Brookhaven Service Center in Holtsville, New York. During his assignment at Brookhaven, he was awarded the Albert Gallatin Award for faithful and honorable service to the Treasury Department.
    Upon his retirement, John and Terry relocated to Sun City Center, Florida where for 30 years he lived out his dream of golfing just about every day. He was also extremely proud to serve as an Adult Altar Server at the Prince of Peace Church in Sun City Center.
    John loved anything that had to do with golf whether it was playing, watching or reading Golf Magazine. He was also an avid boxing fan and enjoyed playing the stock market. Above all else though, being all about family, he cherished the quality time he spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
    John is survived by two daughters Mary-Jean Godbout and her husband Ronald of Northfield, NH and Patricia A. Melnicki and her husband L. Stephen of Scottsdale, AZ; six grandchildren James Godbout and his wife Jillian of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Jon Godbout and his wife Lori of Londonderry, NH, Lisa Powell and her husband Ronald of Waldorf, MD, Alexis C. Melnicki of Portland, OR, Emily A. Bacchetti and her husband Stephen of Portland, OR and Stephen P. Melnicki of Chicago, IL; five great-grandchildren Angus Godbout of Mont Vernon, NH, Declan Godbout of Carlisle, MA, Ethan and Evelyn Godbout of Londonderry, NH and Jameson Patrick Bacchetti of Portland, OR; two brothers George Michael Tarrant of Phoenix, AZ and Robert James Tarrant and his wife Jeanne of Merrimac, MA; two cousins Elizabeth and Florence Holton both of Lowell, MA; and several nieces and nephews.
    He was also father of the late John Michael Tarrant and Bernard Anthony Tarrant and brother of the late James Joseph Tarrant, Jr., Christine (Tarrant) (Paquette) Newton and Elizabeth (Tarrant) Pyatt.
    There will be no calling hours. His Funeral will take place from the funeral home on Tuesday, June 21st at 12 o’clock noon followed by a Funeral Mass at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in Lowell at 1 o’clock. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, John’s family suggests that contributions may be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 or the Autism Society of America, 4340 East West Hwy, Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20814. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O’Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.
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