John William Syrios, Sr. passed away peacefully on April 27, 2018 at the age of 90. He was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on December 20, 1927. He was found abandoned in a box on Court St. beside Levi Memorial Hospital on January 2, 1928. Baby Doe would later be adopted by William John and Mary Finley Syrios.
In his younger days, he lived in Borger and Phillips, Texas; Chicago, Illinois and Santa Fe, New Mexico. After graduation, he joined the Texas National Guard Reserves where he served as 1st Staff Sargent. During his time in the service, he married Geraldine (Jerry) McCutchen December 18, 1948. Their first child, Mary Gale, came along in 1949. At 11 months old, she passed away tragically. After the tragic accident, John and Jerry received Jesus as their personal Savior. John went on to pursue the call of God in his life and was ordained as a minister. John and Jerry were later blessed with three more children; Deborah, John II and Michael. While pastoring a church in Cisco, Texas , he received a call to join the Police Department and became a police officer in Borger, Texas from 1957 to 1967. From 1967-1974, he was head of the Juvenile Probation Department in Odessa, Big Springs and San Angelo, Texas.
Upon retiring from pastorate and law enforcement, he and Jerry moved to Arlington, Texas to be near their soon arriving grandchildren.
He became employed as a manager with Eckerd Drug Store which gave the opportunity to continue preaching revivals. John cofounded “For God and Country” with Major Pedro Diaz Lanz and was the sole founder of “The Deeper Life Ministries.” Although he retired from Eckerd’s in 2011, he never retired from his calling as a minister. Throughout his life, he prayed and loved everyone. He was always asking those he encountered, “Have you asked Jesus into your heart?” He was a loving son, brother, husband, uncle, father, granddad, great granddad and friend. While he will be greatly missed, he left us an incredible legacy.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Jerry Syrios; daughter, Mary Gale Syrios; parents, William and Mary Syrios; sister, Dorothy Rhoades and her husband Ellis Rhoades; brother, Bob Goodwin; brother in law, Commander, L. M. Patton; daughter in law, Brenda Syrios; 2 granddaughters, Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd.
Survivors include: Daughter, Debbie Spears (Tommy); sons, John Syrios, II, Michael Syrios (Donna); sister, Mary Helen Patton; sister in law, Rose Dillard (Boyd); brother in laws, Alvah D. McCutchen (Laverne), Calvin McCutchen; grandchildren, Thomas Spears (Angela), Matthew Spears (Amy), Adam Spears (Ashley), Miranda Fuller (Billy), Karinda Syrios (Rudy), Johnna Syrios (Rayshaun), Tina Syrios (Kary), Rachel Black (Nick), Rebecca Syrios, Gabriel Syrios (Jessica), Johnny Todd (Carmen), James Todd; 40 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A visitation for John will be held Friday, May 4, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, Texas. A funeral service will occur Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM, at Moore Funeral Home. A graveside service will occur Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 12:30 PM at Emerald Hills Memorial Center, 500 Kennedale Sublett Rd, Kennedale, Texas.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Syrios family.
