John D. Lehan, Jr., of Ewell died unexpectedly in his sleep on Friday, December 12, 2014. He was 60 years old.

John was born in Pottsville, PA, and grew up in North Beach, MD. His family moved to Smith Island in 2004 and raised their daughter Meredith, now 16, in Ewell. John is survived by another daughter, Megan Lehan of Salisbury, MD. John is also survived by his wife of 21 years, Terri L. Baker, brothers David and Danny Lehan in Brazil, and Joe Lehan of Waldorf, MD, and sisters Timmy Jo Given of Delaware and Dorie Lehan Buchanan of Colorado. He has many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents John, Sr, and Phyllis Lehan, and sisters Heidi and Tina. John was the oldest of the eight brothers and sisters.

John was a union carpenter for many years working in and around Washington, D.C. He retired early from the Carpenters' Union Local 132. He grew up in the Town of North Beach and worked for the Town for several years. He accompanied his wife overseas to assignments in Trinidad and Tobago, where he learned to scuba dive, and to Croatia during the Yugoslav War. He worked with the International Rescue Committee there ensuring adequate housing for the refugees in Croatia and Bosnia. John was such a caring man, he used most his pay checks to provide food and other needs to refugees that fell between the cracks of the government assistance. But he was good at that job and loved helping people.

John loved the Chesapeake Bay and had a Waterman's license for many decades. As a teenager, his first job was aboard the Porky for Captain Fred Evans from Smith Island when he would come into Chesapeake Beach.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 5:00 PM at the Ewell Methodist Church on Smith Island. The Island Belle II will depart Crisfield City Dock at 3:00 PM and return after.

Donations in John's memory may be made to A Pet For Life, Inc., P.O. Box 321, Parsonsburg, MD 21849 apetforlife.org