John M. Demaree

John M. Demaree, age 69, a long-time resident of Pickerington, and a former resident of Dover, died Friday, Apr. 6, 2012, following an apparent heart attack.



Born Nov. 8, 1942, in Dover, he was a son of the late Joseph K. and Ethel V. Murray Demaree. John graduated from Dover High School in 1961, and later went on to attend the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy, graduating in 1967, beginning a long, successful career in law enforcement. He was assigned to the Cambridge post of the Highway Patrol, where he remained for six years and was honored in 1968 and 1969 as Post Trooper of the Year. In 1973 John was promoted to the rank of sergeant and reported to the New Philadelphia post as assistant commander. Just over four years later, in 1978, he was promoted to lieutenant, and was assigned to Piqua as post commander. In early 1981, John was reassigned to the Office of Personnel at Columbus general headquarters. He earned the rank of captain in 1989, and the rank of major in 1994.



John attended Kent State University, earning an Applied Science degree in Public Administration, and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Ohio University. Further, he completed the management curriculum at Northwestern University Traffic Institute.



John retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1997 as head of the State Highway Patrol Academy. Upon his retirement, he immediately began work as Administrator of Human Resources for the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety, ultimately retiring in 2007. John served the citizens of the State of Ohio well, with integrity and honor, for forty years.



Survivors include his fiance, Theresa Francis of Pickerington; his daughter, Jessica (Don) Miller of New Philadelphia; his two sons, Jeff (Tina), also of Pickerington, and John Todd Demaree of Columbus; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Brandon, Lindsey, John Michael and Christopher Demaree, and Melissa and Rex Miller; one great-grandson, Logan Brown; his sister, Jerilynn (Jerry) Demaree-Kahn of Strongsville; his brother, Joseph (Linda) Demaree of Massillon; several nieces and nephews; his last-surviving aunt, Iris Walker of New Philadelphia; and many cousins.



Additionally, John cared for his aunt, Elsa Mitchell, during the last years of her life.



Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, 803 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, on Tuesday, Apr. 10, 5 8 p.m. A funeral service, officiated by Rev. Brian Flood of Faith Christian Church in New Philadelphia, will be held Wednesday, Apr. 11, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of John, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.



The family suggests that contributions in John's memory be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693.