John Bazzrea
John Cleveland “John Boy” Bazzrea, 69, of Covington, Virginia, passed away on March 28, 2026. He was born on November 20, 1956, in Covington, Virginia. He spent many years there before moving to Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he lived with his beloved granddaughter and family.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John Bertrand Bazzrea and Rovena Saville Bazzrea; his brother, James “Jimmy” Bazzrea, his mother-in-law, Juanita Gray Jones.
John was a devoted husband to his wife, Dianna Bazzrea, and a loving father figure to his stepdaughter, Catherine Dillon and her wife Jennifer Dillon. He was a proud grandfather to Kimberly McKee and her husband Dustin McKee, and Zackary Shepard. His greatest joy was being a great-grandfather to Preston, Graysen, Lucas, Christian, Penelope, Luna, and Hennleigh, who brought endless smiles to his life.
He is also survived by his brother, Bruce Bazzrea, Bruce’s wife Katie Bazzrea, and their children, Paige and Kelly Ann, his brother Jimmy's wife Fay Bazzrea and their daughter Angel Curry; and along with many extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.
John worked for many years at the papermill, where he was known for his strong work ethic. Outside of work, John had a passion for working on cars, attending car shows, and spending time outdoors mowing grass. He was always willing to lend a helping hand in his community and was known as someone you could count on. He was a faithful member of Bethesda Church, where he attended regularly until he no longer could, continuing to watch services on his phone.
Known by many as Johnny, he will be remembered as strong, happy, and full of humor. He was hardheaded and headstrong in the best way, always standing his ground and living life on his own terms. He loved to joke and laugh, and one of his favorite sayings—“the more you eat, the more you fart”—became a running joke he shared with his great-grandchildren, who loved repeating it with him. He would often tell his brother Bruce, “you just need a bigger motor and a full tank of gas.”
He shared many special memories with those he loved.
He and his wife, Dianna, enjoyed taking trips together to Cancun, making memories filled with fun and laughter. He spent countless hours in the garage with his granddaughter Kimberly, working side by side—pulling transmissions out of trucks, putting them back in, and tackling projects together. They also shared time mowing grass and simply enjoying each other’s company.
One of John’s proudest and most unforgettable moments was racing an airplane in Bath County in his Pontiac Trans Am—and winning. It was a story he loved to tell and a memory he held close.
John Cleveland “John Boy” Bazzrea will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His laughter, strength, and love for his family will never be forgotten, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
Forever Loved, Never Forgotten
Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is handling arrangements.
In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Nicely Funeral Home.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com
