John Carson, 83, unexpectedly passed away in his home on March 25, 2021. John was born in the township of Charleston, NC on October 20, 1937 before moving to Bryson City, NC where he graduated high school. As with most families during the Great Depression, his young life had difficult times, but he never allowed the hardships of his youth dominate the way he led his life as a brother, husband, and father.
In 1958, John started his life of servitude when he enlisted into the US Navy. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic, a duty that he prided himself on. John’s service in the Navy let him travel from Virginia to Rhode Island to Texas. Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was his last stop before retiring in 1973 after 15 years in the Navy. He settled in Flour Bluff, TX as a member of the reserves and was serving as a Deputy Sheriff when he met his soon-to-be wife Ann. Apparently love knows no bounds because John willingly accepted Ann and her five mostly domesticated kids. John bestowed upon his new kids the lessons of responsibility and hard work while doing his best to be the father that they had lacked most of their young lives.
During his retired life, John was a self-proclaimed master craftsman. He thoroughly enjoyed carpentry and his works clearly displayed both his skill and passion. John also built a beautiful home for Ann and himself, showing the same care for his lawn, trees, and gardens that he had with everything else in life. His fifteen grandkids did their best to drive Grandpa crazy by running wild all over his well-manicured yard. When he was not busy chasing kids out of his gardens or dressing up as Santa Clause for Christmas, John spoke highly of his time in the Navy, always reflecting on his time as an aircraft maintainer. He also loved to reminisce about his time growing up in coal miner and tobacco country in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He cherished his sister, Stephanie Lynn, and always took time to visit her during cross country trips in his RV. Beneath John’s stoic demeanor was a quiet sense of humor and a compassion for life that will be missed by his friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Ann Carson, stepson, Jay O’Brien, two stepdaughters, Wendy & Danny Wilson and Teri & Mike Scarborough as well as his sister Stephanie Lynn, two brothers, Franklin Pierce Carson & Clayton Joseph Carson, along with 15 grandkids and 41 great-grandkids. He is preceded in death by his parents Frank P. Carson & Virginia Francis Leatherwood and his stepsons, Robert “Bobby” O’Brien & Pat Neal O’Brien.
The funeral service will be held on April 5, 2021, at 2:00PM at Memory Gardens in Corpus Christ, TX with entombment immediately following at 3:00PM. All are invited to attend, masks are required. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Home for Our Troops charity organization.
