John M. Gaffney Jr. was born March 1, 1940 to John M. Gaffney and Mary Louise (Woestemeyer) Gaffney in Kansas City, Kansas. John graduated from Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas in May 1958. On September 14, 1963, John and Barbara Ann Middaugh were united in marriage in Lawrence, Kansas. To this union, two children were born, a daughter, Jonna, and a son, Johnny.

John attended the University of Kansas, completing a Bachelors Degree in education, attending graduate school, and later receiving a Juris Doctorate. After becoming a lawyer in 1979, John and his family moved to Anthony, Kansas where he joined Ronald D. Albright in the practice of law. John retired in the summer of 2016.

John was a member of the Anthony Kiwanis Club, The Harper County Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, and the Kansas Honor Scholars program.

On July 6, 2020, John passed away at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister Faye Wood, and his grandson Gabriel Gaffney. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his daughter Jonna, his son Johnny, his granddaughter Mackenzie, and his grandson Jack.

Cremation and burial have taken place. Memorials in memory of John may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Habitat for Humanity's Veterans Build and may be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.