John Roy Bullis
June 4, 1937 - December 4, 2024
John Roy Bullis, born June 4, 1937, in Sydney, Montana, beloved son of Edwin and Alma Bullis, passed from this life into eternal life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 4, 2024.
Starting in the badlands in Montana, he grew up in Powell, Wyoming, spent three years in Evanston, Wyoming and finally, on to Carson City, Nevada in 1954 when he was a senior in high school, as his parents had established and built the radio station KPTL, which broadcasted for over 50 years. John played in a high school traveling dance band, playing saxophone, with a deep love of music that would resonate throughout his life.
He married the love of his life, Bonnie J. Florer in 1955. Together, they shared a wonderful life over the next 69 years. John graduated from the University of Nevada in 1959, with a degree in business administration, majored in accounting. Since he and Bonnie were married at the tender ages of 18, it was necessary to work full time while attending college. John worked as an announcer and DJ for three different radio stations (KPTL, KBET and KDOT) in addition to other accounting side jobs.
Subsequent to graduation, John received a regular US Army commission. With a child and another on the way and his love of accounting, he asked to be assigned to the finance corp. He instead, at the wisdom of the Army, spent two years in the Field Artillery and completed active duty as a captain in August of 1961.
John is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and children Kelly (Nancy Giles), Colleen Webster (Wade), Craig (Amy Fedewa) and Neal. Seven loving grandchildren also survive him, Ian, Christa, Alisha, Luke, Austin, Gavin and Logan, as well as eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
In the fall of 1965, he founded his CPA firm on Telegraph Street in Carson, many times walking the block and main street to hand out his business cards and offering to prepare tax returns. Through the next 45 or so years, John ran his full array practice with many wonderful partners, employees, and especially clients. He went on to sell the practice to son, Kelly, but continued to work with various clients and projects into his 80’s.
John was a very unique and warm person, who loved to spend time with family, friends and clients. During his life he was also dedicated to his Christian faith, organizations that he felt worthwhile, and activities with a zest for sharing time, rather than just spending it. Among other affiliations, he sang in the barbershop quartet for years, was a former President of the Kit Carson Toastmasters Club and a Board Member of the Rotary Club of Carson City. He was also one of the founders of Friends in Service Helping (FISH) along with wife, Bonnie, in 1979 in direct response to the growing number of homeless and hungry residents in Carson.
John lived a life in community volunteerism, across many city, county and state commissions, finding ways to save money and improve the lives of fellow residents. He was a former Member and Director of the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, former President of the Western Nevada Society of CPA’s, was appointed by the Governor to the Nevada Executive Branch Audit Committee, as well as a Special Master for the Nevada District Court.
Of great pride and satisfaction, John was Chairman of the Carson City Golf Course Committee, which helped the city build the first 18-hole golf course in Carson City, resulting in a state-of-the-art system of recycling treated city water for use on public courses. This was not only a savings to the city but was also an environmentally friendly way of using treatment water. This process is now widely used in the golf industry.
Membership in a Christian church for the last 60+ years was a passion for John. He taught Sunday school, was a former Board Member and Lay Leader of the United Methodist Church, and a Lay Leader and Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City. Some of the most fun John enjoyed, was singing with others in church choirs for over 50 years.
Gentle, positive thinking, loving and giver of time, he genuinely cared about you, and you felt it. As a result, his journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, and unwavering faith in God. Some of his best advice was - that no matter your circumstance, “the sun will rise tomorrow”; be thankful in all ways; read a book by Og Mandino, Napoleon Hill and Brennan Manning, and hand out copies of them to your friends until you run out. Repeatedly through decades, John told most everyone – “I’ve been lucky all my life”. This was John code for – he was grateful (lucky) to have spent time with you. He made you feel special, leaving you with a lasting feeling of grace. He will be so deeply missed but we know he is with his Lord and Savior (singing in the choir).
The family will have a private memorial, which will be followed by a Celebration of Life service and reception, with friends and family, to be held on February 1, 2025, at 10:30am at the First Presbyterian Church at 306 W Musser St. Carson City, NV.