Lanny Calahan

Ninety year old, Lanny Shelton Calahan, resident of Rockport, TX, died Saturday, November 15, 2025 of natural causes. His wife of 67 years, June, kept him company, holding his hand with hers as he slept. When he slipped away from his life on earth, June and her family, though broken-hearted, found comfort in knowing that they will see him again in heaven. Lanny lived his life with a purpose that became more clear to himself and those around him as his years advanced; his love of God and his desire to influence others toward a life with Christ was evident in his daily interactions with others.

Lanny treasured the people in his life. Throughout the years, he made a point to visit and call family members and friends, far and wide, in an effort to stay in touch. Attending his All School Reunions in Oklahoma was another one of the ways he maintained contact with people he valued. Many times, when people asked how he was doing, Lanny would respond, “Better now that I got to see you!”. He valued all people. Even encounters with strangers in his daily life became opportunities to encourage. He would often end a conversation by offering the instruction to “Stay well.”. Lanny found opportunities to help people around him when possible, and was proud that his many hard earned skills enabled him to solve problems in many situations.

Lanny was born in Tribbey, Oklahoma, on February 19, 1935, and had three brothers, Glenn, Johnie, and Paul. When his parents, Frank and Lorene, moved them out of the Dust Bowl, Lanny and his brothers worked as seasonal farm hands in California. During those years, the boys became proficient in auto mechanics, learning this skill from their dad and perfecting it through years of practice and necessity. Like many others of his generation, Lanny left home and school early to join the workforce. As a result, he had a variety of work experiences; He mined uranium, dug oil wells and water wells, repaired and delivered mobile homes, and became a television repairman. His ability to pick up new information quickly, gained the attention of a local business owner, Don Starr, who hired him to work as an electrician. Lanny enjoyed working with Don, and learned a lot about electricity and how to run a business. Upon the closing of Don Starr Electric, he continued working as an electrician and eventually became the owner and operator of LC’s Best Electric Service, in Flagstaff, AZ. Even after closing his business in 2007, Lanny continued to assist many of his friends as an on-call consultant.

Lanny met the love of his life, June Gardner, in Norwood, CO in 1957 and married her a year later, May 2, 1958. In the whirlwind of that first year, Lanny and June moved to Rock Springs, WY; Minot, ND; Littleton, CO; and to Grand Junction, CO where their son, Dwayne was born. They left Grand Junction with their infant son, and moved twice more, to Grants, NM, and to Flagstaff, AZ where they finally settled in. Over the next 6 years, they added three girls to their family, Kandi, Lori, and Julani.

With Flagstaff as home base, the family found many occasions to travel: visiting family in Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Idaho, and Oklahoma, as well as traveling with extended family on vacations to Mexico. Many years, Lanny enjoyed hunting for Elk in Colorado with his in-laws in the fall, sharing the meat between families to help keep the freezers full. Later in his life, he took advantage of his knowledge of auto mechanics when he and two of his brothers, combining resources and talent, bought a Buick Grand National to compete in the Grand National Auto Races held in Las Vegas, NV; Noble, OK; and Bowling Green, KY. They were recognized around the racetracks as “The Old Guys”, and won one race. Winning wasn’t the point for them, though. Those racing escapades seemed to serve as a special place marker between the brothers. A chance to express the knowledge and experience gained by each of them, combined in one grand project…before age got in the way. Lanny cherished those experiences with his brothers and spoke of them often.

Such an exciting, long, and full life is truly worth celebrating.

Lanny is survived by his wife June, his son Dwayne Calahan (Lisa),  daughters, Kandi Calahan, Lori Lopez (Phillip), Julani Stribling (Frank); his grandchildren, Adam Calahan (Sarah), Amy Dixon (Phil), Miranda Skousen (Dustin), Jordan Boniolo (Victoria), Laina Robinson, Jarod, Nick and Heath Lopez, Alex and Kaycie Stribling; his great-grandchildren Connor, Adison, and Olivia Calahan, Hannah and Emma Dixon, Elliana and Daxton Skousen, Kyler and Bowdee Robinson; his brothers Johnie Calahan, and Paul Calahan (Shirley); and his sister-in-law Shirley Calahan.

Lanny was predeceased by his parents Frank and Lorene Calahan, and his brother Glenn Calahan.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, November 21st, 2025, at 5 p.m., at North Bay Fellowship 3530 N. Main St., Ingleside, TX 78362. Officiant, Pastor Jeremy Eden.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to North Bay Fellowship (address above) or Harbor Hospice at 400 Enterprise Blvd, Suite C, Rockport, TX 78382

Special thanks to all the participants of the music Jams in Rockport, Aransas Pass, and Port Aransas. Lanny was a lover of good music, and appreciated the courage it takes to get up there.

“Bye for now!”