John Allen Edmonson of Walnut Grove, MO went to be with his Lord on Friday, August 30, 2019 at the age of 88 years and six months. He was born on February 17, 1931 in Walnut Grove, Missouri to Joe Allen and Zepha Mae (Wheeler) Edmonson.

John Allen Edmonson and Juanita Jo Young were united in marriage on August 26, 1952. They were married upon John's completion of US Army basic training just prior to his deployment to Korea. They were married by the minister at Berryville Baptist Church in Berryville, Arkansas . They just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wheeler Loran Edmonson and Charles Lee Edmonson; and two sisters, Francis Maurine Long and Jo Jean Forshee.

John is survived by his wife, Juanita of the home; children, Barbara Gayle Marrs, Debra Ann Eagleburger and husband Brad, David Edmonson all of Springfield; grandchildren, Erica Russell and husband Mike of Walnut Grove, Cathy Skelley and husband Brent of Springfield, Alannis Taylor of Springfield; great grandchildren, Kayleigh Skelley, Abby Russell, Becky Russell; nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and many friends.

John grew up on the rural Polk County family farm along with his four siblings. He was really close to all his siblings but growing up he spent a lot special time with his brother Charles. They both mothered and spoiled by their older sister Jo Jean. John enjoyed recounted many of Charles and his boyhood stories one involving replanting corn. After some horsing around the brothers proceeded to follow their father's instruction on how to replant the skips along the corn rows in the creek bottom. They tired quickly of poking holes and dropping in yellow kernels of corn. With boyish disregard for how hard times were on the farm financially, they took the remaining corn and threw it in the creek and proceeded home not disclosing their secret until many years later. Don't you know Joe wondered why the corn didn't come up the second time around!

Upon completion of the 8th grade at the one-room Rice School in Polk County, John continued his formal education at Walnut Grove High school graduating in the class of 1948. When asked what activities he was involved in he always stated, " I was the best basketball bench warmer on the team." From the stories heard about the heated wrestling matches he and his brother Charles had in the sloppy barn lot when milking the ole cows, John probably should have been on the wrestling team.

Following graduation, John went to work for Producers Creamery in Springfield, MO in the powder room. In order to keep the powder from clumping together, small balls about the size of golf balls were agitated in the powder. As young boys will do, it is told that they engaged in activities such as throwing these balls at fellow workers until one day one of the hard balls hit the boss and he bellowed "ball games are over."

John's time at Producers Creamery was cut short when he was called up for duty April 1952 to serve in the US Army during the Korean War. He fulfilled his sixteen-week basic training in Texas and then trained in the 398th Heavy Artillery.

Upon on returning home from the war, John and Juanita lived for a time with John's parents. When asked if John ever complained about her cooking during their 67 years of marriage, she always said no "because I learned to cook just like his Mom" and Zepha was one of the best cooks around.

John had been actively involved in his father's farming operation all his life and loved the lifestyle. Knowing about John desire to farm and start a family once he fulfilled his military duty, his dad set into action plans for John to purchase a canned milk route and to continue working on the family farm. John did just this when he returned home. He and Juanita moved into the "weaner" house just down the road and he enrolled in farming classed offered thru the GI bill.

A few years later John moved from hauling milk to working inside the Producer's Creamery in the Boiler Room. This job was ok for a time, but John soon started looking for greener pastures as his family grew.

His brother Loran encouraged him to join him as an over-the-road truck driver for Roadway which he did in 1974. John logged many hours from Springfield to Dallas, etc until he made his last trip in 1991 and retired to spend his time volunteering & enjoying his leisure time in Walnut Grove.

John's great-great grandfather was one of the founding fathers of Walnut Grove, MO, therefore, WG has always held a special place in John's heart. John was instrumental in starting the tradition of flying the American flag on poles in Walnut Grove for Memorial Day, Veterans' Day and Labor Day to show love for country and respect for those who fought to keep our country free.

John never seemed to meet a stranger. His genuine love of people and his belly laugh brought joy to those around him. He loved to play a friendly game of Rook at the Boar's Den and croquet with his buddies behind the May's Mart. John was also pitcher for the Walnut Grove First Baptist soft ball team. John was known for his no waste attitude clearly demonstrated by the pair of Converse he wore every game which his team mates swore were from his high school glory days.

John was a joker, which he inherited from his Dad Joe. One particular Halloween prank was one for the books. He dressed up as a werewolf and went to visit his sister Maurine. While one of his kids proceeded to trick or treat at her front door, John came through the sliding back door and let out an awful noise scaring Maurine out of her wits. The laugh was about to turn on him when Maurine's neighbor mistook him for a prowler in the neighborhood and was about to call the city police. In his defense, John not only played jokes on others but was often the recipient of other's jokes which he took in stride.

He was so known for his jokes that the family often were surprised when he was serious. One afternoon Jo Jean received a package. Her granddaughter remarked that someone must have sent her a brick. In fact it was a brick with an engraved plaque stating it was from the old Walnut Grove High School. John had sent it so she could remember their classmates and happy school years. John was thoughtful in this way and made an effort to include her in what was going on at home while she was in Idaho.

His love for the Cardinals was shared by brother Loran. He often times would hold his transistor radio broadcasting a Cardinal game up to the phone while talking to Maurine just to irritate her. A fun-loving rivalry came to a head when sister Maurine's beloved Royals won the pennant. This was a source of irritation for the brothers. They didn't even want to rehash the plays of the game.

John was all about family. He loved his family with every breath he took. John took seriously the role of father. Living in a house of women he often commented "If I didn't have a son and two sons-in-law I truly would be outnumbered." Years ago Juanita and he were accompanied by Gayle, Debbie, Erica & Cathy to Sea World in Texas. After a few days of being outnumbered John greeted everyone he saw from waitresses to ride attendants with "Ever been cooped up with 5 danged ole' females in a car for several days." I think he was at his wits end. All joking aside he loved and respected each of these ladies with his whole heart.

His love also extended to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John was known to take the deck off his lawn mower to let the grandchildren take a spin around the yard when snow was on the ground. They were in hog heaven. The girls loved crawling up on his lap for snuggle time. On one of these occasions he was asked if he would go to the Veteran's Day assembly at her Willard South Elementary. John's face lit up with pride and he attended every year for the next five years. There is nothing like the love these girls received from their Grandpa.

John grew up in Turkey Creek Baptist Church just north of Walnut Grove where he was saved as a lad and ordained as a Deacon as a young man. John and Juanita moved their membership to Walnut Grove Baptist Church in 1967 where he actively served as Deacon and in various capacities of the church. He loved singing in the choir and sharing this love along with fellow choir members at their regular visits to the Ash Grove Care Center. Visitors to church services were often greeted by John who introduced himself as "John the Baptist" followed with a hearty laugh. His love for God and his church were demonstrated thru the years as John looked for ways he could be of service from painting, fixing railing in the old church, making hospital visits, and mowing lawns for the elderly.

As we think of the many aspects of John's life, his loves could be summed up as
God, Family and Life in general.

John will truly be missed by his devoted family and all those who knew him. May God welcome this faithful servant into his heavenly home where he will gather with loved ones and friends who have gone on before him. Until we meet again!

Visitation will be from 5:00PM-8:00PM, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Walnut Grove First Baptist Church, Walnut Grove, MO. Funeral Services will be 10:00AM, Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at Walnut Grove First Baptist Church, Walnut Grove, MO with burial to follow at Greene Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Walnut Grove First Baptist Church Building Fund and may be left at the funeral home.