John "110" Deere, age 36, was pronounced dead on arrival after being rushed to Russ' Repair on Saturday. "He was doing what he loved most to do - cutting grass" said his best friend Craig. "He wouldn't have wanted to go out any other way. It was sudden and painless."
Russ concluded that the cause of death was a blown-out piston, caused by the ignition of carbon deposits resulting from bad rings and years of burning oil and smoking. "They don't make those engines anymore" said Russ. "We would have had to find him a new piston, bore out the cylinder, get a new gasket, and well..." he said in a trailing voice.
Mr. Deere will be missed by the family's dogs Frank and Ralph, who loved to chase him around the yard.
His friend Craig has plans to park him on a hill in the yard as a memorial to John "just like the farmers do with their old equipment" he said. A late fall event is also planned around Halloween where a straw dummy could be placed in his seat "kinda like a scarecrow".
John was registered as a parts donor, and was known to be active in the perpetuation of the Original JD Lawn Tractor league. The family intends on honoring all requests for parts "'cuz that's what John always wanted most".
