Services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 31 at the First Christian Church in Denison with Dr. Jeff Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends at 9:30 am.
John was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served our country with First Recon, First Marine Division during the Vietnam War and was awarded the National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Campaign Service medal with Device, Combat Action medal, Vietnam Service medal, and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
In his civilian life he remained a very good marksman and avid hunter. He was always building things and even constructed his home from rough cut native cedar from the ground up-without any plans or blue prints, only his vision.
John loved camping in the rough and probably should have been born in the 19th century due to his love for the old west lifestyle. He worked in many fields after his military service including as a salesman at Bob Utter Ford in Sherman and as a scuba diver recovering boats and other items in Lake Texoma. He worked for a time at Flowing Wells Resort and Marina and Libbey Owens Ford. He also loved flying single engine airplanes.
John is survived by his wife, Geri of the home, sister Martha Kooles of Asheville, NC, step-son Greg Hagood of Hendrix, OK, step-daughter Lori Hagood of Browerville, MN, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the nurses on A Wing and all the other staff at the Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham, TX for the love and care they gave John during his stay there.