John Arthur English

John Arthur English of Santa Fe, a kind and soft-spoken man of generous heart and mind, passed away after a brief illness on November 28, 2025. He was 82. Born in Cisco, TX on August 14, 1943, to Robert A. English, a Methodist minister, and Hadis Mae English (née Lacy), John lived and worked in many cities in Texas and New Mexico before settling down in Santa Fe with his wife and partner of 35 years, Emma “Jodie” Gonzales.

The son of a minister, John, and his sister, Mary H. Hilliard, moved often as children as their father’s assignments with the Methodist conference of Texas and New Mexico changed over the years. After graduating in 1962 from Iraan High School (Iraan, TX) and attending McMurry College (Abilene, TX), John went on to work for General Mills as a distribution manager in Texas for the cities of Post, Snyder and Lubbock. Raised to be hard-working, diligent and thoughtful by his parents, John retired from General Mills in 1997 after surviving a near-fatal illness. In his retirement, John enjoyed working with Chevrolet of Santa Fe as a vehicle transporter that took him to various corners of New Mexico.

John enjoyed exploring the outdoors in many different forms. He was an avid motorcyclist and he and Jodie took several trips to various states on the back of his bike. Though he was not raised with horses, Jodie introduced him to horseback riding, and John took to it as if he’d been riding his entire life, riding elegantly and quietly through the outdoors. John was a gifted athlete in high school, where he excelled at basketball and football and medaled at the state level in track and field. An avid loyal Cowboys fan, he also enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s sporting events.

John was loved by many and is survived by his wife, Emma “Jodie” Gonzales; daughter, Leiah Kae Atchison; stepchildren: Brian K. Gonzales (Phyllis) and Jennifer L. Evans (Todd); grandchildren: Morgan Asaad (Jibraun), Mariah Evans-Hovasse (Charlie), Ty Evans (Erin), Matias Gonzales, Andres Gonzales, Brody Evans, Dillan McCullough (Stephanie), and Wade McCullough; great-grandchildren: Liam and Elliot Assad, Cooper, Jackson and Fiona McCullough; and sister, Mary H. Hilliard (John, dec. 2024). He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert A. English and Hadis Mae English, and his son, Stephen L. English.

A private celebration of John’s life will be held in Santa Fe for family. In lieu of flowers, it was John’s wish that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or a non-profit organization of the individual’s choice.