NOTE: OBITUARY/PHOTO MUG
`He was a really good, kind and honest man,’ his former daughter-in-law says.
John L. Quebedeaux, whose name is most recognized for the car dealership he owned, died of cancer at his home Monday. He was 77.
At Mr. Quebedeaux’s request, a funeral will not be held.
Mourners are asked to send donations in his name to Carondelet Health Care Hospice, 1802 W. St. Mary’s Road, or a favorite charity.
Mr. Quebedeaux was appointed in 1960 by then-Gov. Paul Fannin to fill a vacancy as state treasurer.
The owner of Quebedeaux Pontiac, 3566 E. Speedway Blvd., he retired as president of the dealership in 1983.
He came to Tucson in 1960 from Phoenix when he bought Bill Hoffman Pontiac, 1430 N. Oracle Road, and moved the dealership to its present location in 1968.
Nancy Quebedeaux, former daughter-in-law, said Mr. Quebedeaux was very active in the community and made many contributions.
She said his participation in Arizona Boys Ranch, of which he was president and director of from 1962-71, was “pretty admirable.’
The ranch is a residential home for underprivileged boys.
“He had a lot of concern for adolescent boys growing up,’ she said.
Through his dealership he also provided cars free to local high schools for driver training, she said.
“He was a really good, kind and honest man,’ she said.
Outside of the automobile business, Mr. Quebedeaux was an avid golfer and loved to play bridge and travel with his wife, Lucile.
Nancy Quebedeaux said Mr. Quebedeaux was angry when the doctor told him he had only three months to live. He told her he hadn’t done all the things he wanted to do.
Mr. Quebedeaux said he had planned to travel later in the year with his wife.
The most important thing he conveyed to his own children and carried forward, Nancy Quebedeaux said, was “working hard and leading a very honest life.’
Mr. Quebedeaux was born in El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1936 and moved to Arizona that year.
Mr. Quebedeaux was director of Arizona Blue Cross from 1958-60, Arizona director of National Automobile Dealers Association from 1967-72, a past president of both Tucson and Phoenix new car dealers associations and general chairman of the Tucson Heart Fund in 1967.
He was an Air Force veteran, member of the Kiwanis Club and recipient of the Time magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1974.
Mr. Quebedeaux is survived by his wife of Tucson}; son Thomas of Tucson; daughters Loraine Whitmore of Portland, Ore., and Ann Cone of Salem, Ore.; sister Jeanne Honsal of Albuquerque; and three grandchildren, Rachel, Michael and Christian Quebedeaux.
Arrangements are being handled by Adair Funeral Homes’ Dodge Chapel.