John Golightly Dies At 48

John Alan Golightly, senior director of marketing at Amarillo, Texas-based Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, died Wednesday from complications from treatment for lymphoma. He was 48.

Golightly joined Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in 1995, where he served as senior director of marketing. He left the organization in 1998 but returned in 2003. The Ranch provides living and education for disadvantaged boys and girls from pre-school through high school.

Susan Brooks, Cal Farley’s vice president for development and marketing, remembered Golightly as a “gentleman” who was always there to help his colleagues. “John was a brilliant analytical mind, who just had a keen mind for direct marketing. But he was also a great person. It was unique for us to have someone who combined those two skills.”

It was during Golightly’s second stint at Cal Farley that Brooks really got to know him well. “When he came back to us in 2003, we were colleagues in fundraising, and we just connected personally.” She recalled they shared a great love of music, and that they often quoted lines from songs and movies to each other.

Golightly was diagnosed with cancer in November but, due to his private nature, did not initially share the news with everyone, she said. Those beyond his closest family and friends were slowly informed of his diagnosis in the following weeks.

Ultimately, Brooks hopes that Golightley will be remembered not only for his work at Cal Farley, but also for the impact he made on peoples’ lives. “John was a leader on our fundraising team, and he was intent on excellent performance. He was very protective of his team and he was a great teacher and mentor.”

Golightly was born July 29, 1964, in Amarillo and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and Master of Business Administration degree from West Texas A&M University. He is survived by his children, Madison and Wilson Golightly; the mother of the children, Rhonda Osmus; his parents, John and Sharla Golightly; two sisters, Laura Pace and Alison Walker; nice, Brittany Pace; nephew, August Walker; and numerous other friends and relatives.

The family asks that all memorials be sent to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, Tex 79174, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 3611 S. Soncy Road, Suite 6A, Amarillo, Texas 79119.