John Wesley Mayner

John Wesley Mayner died, December 26, 2014 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was born September 12, 1935 in Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas and was the only son of Paul Cecil and Lucy Parthenia (Williams) Mayner. He was a 1953 graduate of Ozark High School. He received both bachelors and master’s degrees from Baylor University, Waco, TX, where he played baseball. He received a Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He was a former Bible teacher and Baptist Student Union director at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, and a former Dean of Men at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR. He supplied the pulpit in a number of churches in New Mexico and western Arkansas and wrote Sunday school lessons and articles for publications of the Southern Baptist Convention. He retired from Arkansas Rehabilitation Service after thirty-one years, serving as a certified vocational rehabilitation counselor and regional administrator. After his retirement, he liked to tinker, piddle and putter, and follow around after Nancy, his childhood sweetheart and wife of over 53 years until her death in 2011. He will be remembered for the love, care and devotion he gave to his wife during the many years of her illness. During the time of his wife’s illness, he started a card ministry, sending cards to offer encouragement, a Bible verse, or to let others know he was thinking and praying for them. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and two sisters, Patricia Fowler and Paulette Holden. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Fort Smith. He is survived by three daughters: Martha Lawson and husband, Mark of Liverpool, NY; Melissa of Waxahachie, TX; and Melanie of Bentonville, AR; one sister, Dorotha Mae Snide of Chandler, AZ; three grandsons and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, December 30, 2014 in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial beside his wife in Highland Cemetery, Ozark, AR at 1:00 PM December 30, 2014 all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Aaron Lawson, Alex Lawson, Nathaniel Lawson, James Harp, and Jeff Harp. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Monday from 5-7 PM The family would like to thank Dr. Philip Elangwe, his staff, and the nurses, aides, and staff of Peachtree Hospice for the comforting care they provided to their father. Memorial contributions may be made to Peachtree Hospice, 2910 Jenny Lind Road, Bldg. 4, Fort Smith, 72901 or to Community Rescue Mission, PO Box 607, Fort Smith, 72902. To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com