John Philip Harper

January 7, 1945 – San Diego, California

August 6, 2023 – Tampa, Florida

Born January 7, 1945 to John William and Dorothy Holmes Harper in San Diego, California. John grew up with all of his brothers and sisters on Russell Road in the Avondale neighborhood of North Kansas City, Missouri, and spent many summers and holidays with extended family in Trenton and Chillicothe, Missouri.

As a youth, John was very involved in Scouting, along with his father and brother in Troop 337. He achieved the Eagle Scout rank, and was also inducted into the Micosay, a scouting leadership order in the Midwest.

A 1963 graduate of North Kansas City High School, John attended the University of Missouri and he was graduated from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

He met the love of his life, Mary Lee Cole, in 1967, and they were married September 28, 1968 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kansas City. They were married fifty-four years, welcoming a son in 1970 and daughter in 1975, eventually bringing the family adventure to sunny Tampa, Florida in 1987.

John had a successful career in sales for organizations that pioneered emerging technologies in radiology and nuclear medicine, including Mallinckrodt, Roche, GE Medical, and Siemens.

After retiring, he enjoyed substitute teaching in the Hillsborough County School District for several years.

A lifelong patron of the arts, he enjoyed visiting the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, the Tampa Museum of Art, the St. Petersburg Fine Arts Gallery, the Florida Orchestra, and countless art showings and festivals throughout the Tampa Bay area over many years. His interest in the arts was surely nurtured from a young age by his mother.

Preceding him in death were his parents John and Dorothy and sister Gail Sheridan. Survivors include his wife of 54 years Mary Lee, daughter Merritt Ann Harper of Atlanta, Georgia, son John Kenneth Harper and daughter-in-law Suzanne of Cincinnati Ohio, and his grandsons Henry and Thomas, of whom he was so proud. Survived also by his brother Mark Harper, sister Dorothy “Dottie” Wagner, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private ceremony was held August 8 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Carrollwood, Florida.

Please visit BlountCurryCarrollwood.Com to express online condolences.