John Leon Hand, 67, of Sweet Home passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014. He was born in Iola, Kansas to Robert Lloyd and Rachel Elbertia (Jones) Hand. The family moved to Oregon in 1949. John lived in the Sweet Home, Crawfordsville, and Brownsville area most of his life.

John was a farmer and was involved in forage sales overseas. As a young man, he was an avid fisherman and hunter. Later, he focused on World Frog Jumping and won five world championship titles at the Calaveras County World Frog Jumping Jubilee.

John is survived by: his wife, Mary; daughter, Debra Dawn Riggs; and two granddaughters, Bayli Rachelle Riggs and Myrsadi Rae Riggs.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Robert Lee Hand (1946) and Frankie Hand (1951).

Viewing will be from noon to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 28, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A celebration of life gathering will follow at 2:30 p.m., at John’s home on Harmony Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his honor to his granddaughter Myrsadi Rae Riggs to help with medical expenses. Donations can be made to her account at Key Bank or in care of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel, 1443 Long St., Sweet Home, OR. Make checks payable to Myrsadi Riggs.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.