John’s life was a paragon of dedication. Devoted to God, family, work, his country and to others. He was a longtime member of Liberty Baptist Church. His services included being a deacon, a vacation Bible school volunteer as well as helping to construct the church at its current location.
John served with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and enjoyed a lengthy career as a locomotive engineer.
Considered by his daughters as the strongest and most invincible man in their lives.
He worked nights for the railroad but he spent his days with his daughters when they were young, teaching them to swim, skate, and taught them how to drive anything that had a steering wheel and an engine before their feet could touch the pedals. He schooled his girls in self-sufficiency but in true Daddy fashion he continued to wash, fuel and change the oil in their cars into their adulthood. When his daughters grew up and had children of their own he did the same things for them. He loved to dote on his grandchildren enjoying every moment he could with them. A fond memory for his grandchildren was getting their favorite milkshakes, or “baby shakes” as he liked to call them.
John faithfully took his family to church and instilled in them a love for Christ. His grandchildren lovingly credit him for teaching them the meaning of his favorite scripture, John 3:16.
A Mason, he was a member of Capitol Lodge #600 and the Wahabi Temple Shriners. In his free time he enjoyed watching Nascar, Richard Petty, Elvis Presley, old westerns, antique cars and motorcycles.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Patricia Patterson. She passed from this life with John’s final words in her ear, “I love you.” He was also preceded in death by his sister, Billie Joyce Lawrence, and precious great-grandchild, Bryce Harper Sims.
Survivors include daughters, Diane Nicolosi (Ken), Cathy Johnson (Chris), and Linda Simmons (J.J.); grandchildren, Brittany Sims (Colton), Brandan Evans, Tayler Vercher (John), and Sarah Patterson (Shane); great-grandchildren, Annaleah Katherine Sims, and Harper Grace Sims; sister, Luvenia Juanita Brooks; and “adopted daughters”, Pam Lewis, and Karen Lott.
Visitation will be held from 1:00pm-2:00pm, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Graveside services will follow at 2:30pm at Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association at heart.org or to the St. Dominic’s Health Services Foundation at fmolhs.org.
