John Hardin “Buck” Field was born December 7, 1918 at Benton City, MO; the son of Robert Roy and Addie Estes Field. He passed away Thursday, August 10, 2006 in Layton, UT.

John spent most of his younger years growing up in Mexico, MO. At the young age of 9, he was showing horses at local shows in Missouri. His love of fine horses continued on throughout the rest of his life.

In 1943, John married Rita Ann Kersting in Mexico, MO. In 1967, the marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He joined the Army, of World War II, training in the infantry in Louisiana and Texas. He was sent overseas where he served in Burma, China and India. He received 4 Bronze Stars and The Combat Infantry Badge. He was discharged November 20, 1945.

After the war ended, he decided to continue his career with American Saddlebred Horses. In 1947 he came to Utah to help establish the Flint Farms in Layton, UT. With him he brought 10 good horses, of which he rode to championships, mostly throughout the west. He showed one of the horses 215 times, winning 213 first and 2 reserves.

He opened the John Field Stable in Salt Lake City in 1967 at the Utah State Fair Park. On October 31, 1980, tragedy struck his barn at the Fair Park which took 16 of his show horses. The next year, he built a new barn in Layton on South Flint Street. He retired in 1999 due to Parkinsons Disease.

John was a recognized American Saddle Horse Judge, judging coast to coast in the United States and in Canada. In 1951, he was named Horseman of the Year. In 1999, he was inducted into the United Professional Horsemen’s Association Hall of Fame at St. Louis Missouri.

John is survived by his wife Rita of 63 years of Layton; son, William Lee (Chris) Field of Shelbyville, Kentucky; four daughters, Connie (Hank) Cragun of Ogden; Barbara (Rick) Adams, Plain City, Utah; Lynne (Stan) Warren, Declo, Idaho; and Debbie (Bob) Bennett of Price, Utah; 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Also sisters Mary Knoedler, Mexico, MO; Marian Grasser, Kenosha, Wisconsin; brothers, Roy Field, Mexico, MO; Merritt Field, Cloverdale, CA. He is preceded in death by one daughter Sue Ann, brother and two sisters.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 15, 2006.  Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Parkinson Foundation would be appreciated.

“NEVER SAY WHOA IN A MUDHOLE”

E-mail condolences to the family at llm@lindquistmortuary.com