John was born in 1919 in Mississippi where he grew up helping his parents work their farm. He developed a strong work ethic early. His desire to garden and grow plants and trees never left him. He had his garden until about the age of 90. Using an old push plow, he would till the soil. He loved nature and his birds that he fed daily.
He walked several miles to a country school each day. After high school he attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College. He enjoyed attending homecomings to see former classmates. He was probably one of the oldest attending the homecoming at Southwest Mississippi College in 2012.
He was a United States World War II Merchant Marine Veteran, for which he was awarded medals. He was in the convoy of the Run to Murmansk, Russia to aid Russia. He was given a medal by the Russian Ambassador to the United States on the Liberty Ship John Brown in Baltimore, MD in 1992 for his participation in the Murmansk Run. He made an around the world trip during the war. He continued in the Merchant Marines through 1946, some of the voyages were between Africa and Italy, returning Italians who had been war prisoners.
His civilian career started in 1946 with Cities Service Oil Co. He was an operator there until he retired in 1979. He then went to work as a pipe fitter with the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 106 in Lake Charles He worked until the late 1980’s and enjoyed every day spent on a job.
John, was ordained a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Sulphur. He was a member there since about 1946 when he settled in Sulphur. He was saved as a youngster at Zion Hill Baptist Church, MS and baptized in the creek nearby.
John was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Sulphur Lodge. He was a Noble in the Shriners through the Habibi Temple. He enjoyed many years as a member of the Shriner Clown unit that participated in many parades and helped with the Shrine Circus each year in Lake Charles. He was, also, a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Sulphur, and was proud a member of the American Legion and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Those left to cherish his memory are his three children, Carol Buchert and husband, Charles of Lake Charles, Marcia Bertrand and husband, Ronald of Moss Bluff, and Jon Lane Moak, Tonya LeBlanc, and Debbie Navarre all of Sulphur. Three grandchildren, Blake Buchert and wife, Jessica of New Orleans, Hunter Buchert of Denver, Co. and Carly Bertrand of Lake Charles.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Marie Gardner Moak, to whom he was married for 62 years, also, his parents Thomas and Velma Moak, brothers Virgil Moak and Amos Moak.
His Home Going will be at 10 AM Friday, April 25 in the First Baptist Church of Sulphur. Dr. David Holder will officiate. Visitation is from 5 until 9 Thursday, April 24, in Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Also, a time of visitation will be an hour prior to the service on Friday. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines South. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com .
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jody George, Dr. Haxhillari and the entire staff on 2nd floor at the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. They gave the excellent, compassionate and needed care to our Father in his final days.
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