John Ned Roberts

John Ned Roberts was born to Ned and Doris Roberts December 28, 1948 in Sunnyside Washington.  John was the second of four children.  John lived on Blalock Island in the Columbia River with his family until he was 9 and they moved to Alaska.  While in Alaska Ned ran Cattle on Sitkalidak Island part of the Alutian Chain off Kodiak.  John was homeschooled during this time along with his brother David and sister Lorena.  Ellana Was born on Kodiak Island in 1963.  Soon after the devastating earthquake of 1964 hit and the family moved back to Washington State  

The family lived in Mabton and Walla Walla for a short time then when John was about 16 Ned bought a ranch in Rice Washington where they raised wheat and cattle.  John finished high school in Kettle Falls Washington and enlisted in the Army shortly after.  John was in the Army stationed in Denang for approximately 2 years.   

After John was discharged from the Army he logged around the Colville area and competed as a bull rider for several years.  John became a farrier around that time. 

John married Debbie Rickey in 1976, and they had their son Shawn Roberts on January 1, 1978, while living in Deer Park, Washington.   

John married Roxanne Turner in 1981, and they had their daughter Roni Roberts in May 27,1983 in Spokane, Washington.  

John and Roxanne moved to Southern California in 198? Where john pursued a horseshoeing career first working around the polo grounds in Santa Barbra, then Eldorado Polo Club and Empire Polo Club in Indio California where he continued to work until his death on July 4, 2025. 

John was preceded in death by his mother Doris Roberts father Ned Roberts and brother David Roberts. He is survived by his sisters Lorena and Ellana, his two children Shawn Roberts and Roni Roberts-Meyer and three grandchildren Joseph, Lucas, and Rylee. 

We will be having Johnny buried in Mabton Washington next to his mother father Ned and Doris Roberts on August 1,2025.  This is just a small graveside service at 9:00 a.m. 

We will have a full honors military service at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake Washington.   Details for the date of this will be posted here and on Facebook as soon as we have it!!! 

John will be sorely missed by all 

Burial will be in the Mabton Cemetery on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA.  At a later date the family will have a Military Service at the V.A. Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.  Those wishing to sign John's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com   Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Ned Roberts, please visit our floral store.