Person:John Carlisle (17)

Deceased maternal grandmother: Ruby Ashton Medaugh, Deceased paternal grandmother: Helen Haines Carlisle, Deceased maternal great-grandfather Paul Ashton, Deceased maternal great-grandmother Violet Reynolds Ashton, Deceased paternal great-grandfather Harley Haines, Deceased paternal great-grandmother Martha Crum Haines, Deceased cousin: Zacharia Medaugh

Obituary

John Ashton "Johnny" Carlisle, 23, beloved son of Christopher J Carlisle and Rebekah Medaugh Carlisle, died unexpectedly, Friday, June 11, 2021.

He was born February 12, 1998, in Westerville, Ohio, where he attended Whittier Elementary, Longfellow Math and Science Magnet and Blendon Middle schools. In fourth grade his team won the rec league championship in the Rike Center at Otterbein College. He held several golf records in middle school. He attended Johnstown-Monroe High School (2012-2016), where his father teaches and coaches, and participated in basketball and golf. He led the freshman basketball team in scoring. He was part of three golf team conference championships (2012, 2013, 2014) and received conference player of the year honors in 2012 and 2014. In 2014 his golf team placed 7th in the state tournament. Johnny was a two-time qualifier for the Junior World Golf Tournament at Torrey Pines (2014, 2015) and the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at PGA National (2014, 2015). A left arm tendon injury in June 2014 would have lasting consequences.

As a child Johnny enjoyed being the ballboy for the Johnstown's boys' basketball teams and Otterbein University's men's soccer and baseball teams.

Johnny earned NJCAA Div III All-America honors in golf in 2017 at Columbus State Community College and earned his Associate of Arts degree in 2019. He then transferred to Otterbein University where he studied global studies and political science and was scheduled to graduate in April 2021. Otterbein University awarded Johnny his Bachelor of Arts diploma posthumously in August 2021.

Johnny became a passionate, self-taught guitarist, and played 6-string and 12-string acoustic guitars but favored the electric guitar. At the time of his death he was making plans to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where his favorite musician, John Mayer, had studied.

Johnny worked at Clover Valley Golf Club in Johnstown (2014-2020) and was employed by the Zoar Village Golf Course in Dover at the time of his death.

Johnny was beautifully and wondrously made: a gifted athlete, intensely competitive and amazingly pain-tolerant, smart, sensitive, curious, a keen observer, creative, kind, generous, funny and hard working. He loved nature, adventure and writing. He was a devoted friend to many. But despite his many gifts, talents and friends, Johnny suffered from mental health issues and self-medicated. He died by suicide.

He is predeceased by his maternal grandmother Ruby Ashton Medaugh (2009) and cousin Zacharia C. Medaugh (1996). In addition to his parents, Johnny is survived by his sister, Kaitlin Rose Carlisle; grandparents, Joseph R. and Helen Haines Carlisle Sr, and Rev. John G. Medaugh; an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins; and many special friends.

The family received visitors Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Church of the Messiah United Methodist, 51 N. State St., Westerville, Ohio 43081, from 9-11am. Pastor Rick Vilardo, a family friend and neighbor, officiated a Celebration of Life service at 11am. Special music was provided by John Holsinger (on organ and piano) and Johnny Steiner (soloist). Honorary pallbearers were Heath M. Harvey, Brent C. Ford, Evan A. Hall, Anthony M. Imondi, Sean M. Kenney, Daniel C. Kessler and Maxwell A. D. Mollohan who entered the sanctuary carrying some of Johnny's special things as Mr. Steiner sang acapella, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Only Pastor Vilardo and Johnny's father, Chris, spoke during the service. Pastor Vilardo stressed that "no one has ever looked into the eyes of someone that God does not desperately love." And the father encouraged those struggling with mental health and/or addiction to "buy into" a treatment program. He concluded by saying, "Johnny, I miss you. I'm proud of you. I will always love you." As a nod to one of Johnny's favorite movies, "Ocean's Eleven," Mr. Holsinger played "Clair de Lune" on the piano as the honorary pallbearers removed Johnny's effects (baseball and glove, hockey stick and skates, basketball, football, Ugg slippers, electric guitar and golf bag) from the chancel. The last song played was found on all of Johnny's playlists: "Gravity," by John Mayer. A reception followed in McVay Hall.

Johnny's cremains were privately interred at Otterbein Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Otterbein O Club, 1 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081, and Concord Counseling Services, 700 Brooksedge Blvd, Westerville, OH 43081. Complete obituary and condolences at morelandfuneralhome.com.

Sep 5, 2020 with Atwood Lake in background

Feb. 7, 2021.

Feb. 2021. On frozen Atwood Lake with father, Chris.

Jan. 2021. Sunset over Atwood Lake.

Nov 2007. Johnny with grandparents, Joe and Helen (Haines) Carlisle and Ruby (Ashton) and John Medaugh

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