John Peter "Jay" Ossenfort passed away peacefully at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona on September 14th, surrounded by loved ones. He was 82 years old.

John was born the eldest of four children in St. Louis, Missouri to John P. Ossenfort, Jr. and Barbara Kleefisch Ossenfort. He grew up in the St. Louis suburbs and attended St. Louis University High School and, subsequently, St. Louis University where he received a Bachelor of Science in History (1962) and a Masters degree in Geology (1966). Serving in the US Army Reserves from 1962 to 1968, John also managed to backpack whenever possible and developed a love of cave exploring — helping to map new cave systems throughout the Midwest. During his college years he also fell in love with the American Southwest, hiking the canyons of the Colorado Plateau, volunteering for the Sierra Club, and working at a boy's camp along Schnebly Hill Road for two summers.

In 1966, John joined Humble Oil Company (later Exxon) as a seismic interpreter and moved to Tyler, Texas.  Over time, he worked for a number of Exxon divisions and affiliates in Houston, New Orleans, Walton-on-Thames, England, and Stavanger, Norway — primarily in geophysical applications and technical management.

John met Cheryl Kliefoth in 1973 and they married in June 1975 while John was working in England.  Their two children, son John and daughter Caroline (Cari) were born there. In 1998, John retired from Exxon after a thirty-two year career. The family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona in July 1999.

In retirement, John's hobbies included old cars, old clocks, and drinking good wine (preferably "old"). He and Cheryl joined the docent program at the Museum of Northern Arizona shortly after arriving in Flagstaff and volunteered there regularly for the next 23 years in various capacities. John continued to enjoy hiking, reading mysteries, participating in CARavans with the Classic Car Club of America, and traveling regularly overseas. He particularly enjoyed cruising on the English canals in a self-hire narrowboat, creating and sharing wonderful experiences with friends and family.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bill and his sister Judy. He is survived by his wife Cheryl, his son John, his daughter Cari, his sister Jill, his sister-in-law Marcia, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His ashes will be interred at the Lowell Observatory Columbarium in Flagstaff. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.