St. George, Utah - John Forbes McAra was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 8, 1944. His mother Euphemia MacDonald McAra raised him while his father, Duncan Forbes, continued fighting in the 2nd World War for the British Army. His younger sister, Robin, was also born in Glasgow. The McAra's emigrated Scotland for Australia, in the hopes of a better life after the war. They first settled in Western Australia, and when John and Robin were older, they moved 2300 miles across the continent to the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra.

Canberra is where John was first introduced to and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he married his first wife, Susan, and graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor's Degree in Science. A job with American Airlines took the McAra's to America, and their first child, Cameron Forbes McAra, was born in January of 1971 in Tulsa Oklahoma. While Cameron was young, John attended his beloved Ohio State University, where he would achieve his Master's Degree in Science. In June of 1980, John and Susan adopted their daughter, Courtney Fiona McAra.

In 1987 John and Susan's divorce became final, however, that same year, John met Bette Elaine Gledhill. After a whirlwind four-month romance, they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on July 30, 1987. Not long afterwards John moved once again to Woodinville, Washington, where John co-founded North Ridge Software. Both Cameron and Courtney lived with John and Bette at various times in their lives, along with numerous friends, church members, families in need, and foster children. In 2003, John and Bette moved to Bellingham, Washington, where they lived for nine years. During that time, they served in the Vancouver, British Columbia Temple.

After John's retirement, they began their long-awaited missionary work, serving in Australia, Tampa, Florida, and locally in St George at the both the Records Operation Center, and acting as guides in the St George Historic Sites Mission.

John is survived by his son, Cameron (54) and daughter-in-law Lisa (54) of St. George, Utah; daughter, Courtney (44) and son-in-law Josh (45) of Tualatin, Oregon; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and his sibling, Robin Anne Allen of Borwal, NSW Australia, and her children.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with a viewing prior from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Bloomington 8th Ward Chapel, 3381 Mulberry Drive, St. George, Utah. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John to the American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/donate.html .

John McAra Funeral Service Program

Services will be livestreamed at the following link: John McAra Livestream