Johny Wesley Sconce was born at home in Shannon County, Missouri, on July 14, 1928, the son of William Wesley Sconce and Lula Pearl (Ma) Prince Sconce. They lived in what was called the "Copper Mile Flats" about 3 miles east of Eminence on Highway 19.  He entered into his heavenly home on June 21, 2017 from the Baptist Home in Chillicothe, Missouri, and was greeted by his Lord, and all the loved ones gone before. He was 88.

Dad would tell the story that when he was born, there was another family who needed the doc on the same day for the same reason. They had to tell that family that the Doc was over at the Sconces delivering the most beautiful baby there ever was!  Years later, Dad led that man who had been born on the same day, to Christ. Just a few weeks later, Dad preached his funeral.

Johny was saved in June 1945 under the preaching of E.N. Webb, after a week long revival. On June 17, 1945, after the funeral of his Grandpa Sconce, he, along with 15 others including his sister, Lucille, and sister in law Milda (Biddy) Hensley Sconce, were baptized in Jacks Fork River right below Button Rock in Shannon County.

He was united in marriage to Wandalea Dethrow, on May 10, 1951 at West Plains, Missouri at the last chapel service of MOZARK College.

It was on his mother's 50th birthday, when Johny was ordained into the ministry at Horner Church in Shannon County on June 11, 1951.

He attended and graduated from Arkansas State University, and went on to be in the first graduating class of the Midwestern Theological Seminary in Kansas City, in 1961. He was the highest man in Greek Class and was very proud of this achievement. In 1958, Son Mark was the very first baby born to a Midwestern couple.

Johny served as a Southern Baptist minister for over 60 years in the ministry. Every time he retired, he would come out of retirement to supply the pulpits while churches searched for full time ministers. He did that 3 times after his first retirement. His favorite day of the week was Sunday, and nothing pleased him more than to lead others to Christ. His sermons were filled with illustrations and humor, making it easier for the congregations to 'chew' on the meat during the week. No one could preach like Dad!

When God called him to small rural churches and there wasn't enough salary to meet their needs, Johny was hired as a bi-vocational pastor, teaching Junior High history and social studies. While teaching at Success, Missouri, he became the elementary girls' volleyball coach in which they went undefeated and won their conference. Dad, even in his diminished mental state, could still tell you about that volleyball championship.

After the end of the school year, in order to come back with slides to show his history class, the family took their vacation traveling throughout the United States visiting every historical place there ever was, or thought about being. While others went to the lake, the Sconce family went to Monticello, Mount Vernon, Applomattox Courthouse, Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and more.

Many years, they also traveled anywhere the Southern Baptist Convention was being held. Because of their travels, Johny and Wandalea have traveled to all 50 states, and have also landed in 6 different countries.

Johny had a sense of humor which never stopped. He loved to tell the story of "Pedey the Snake" to whoever would listen, and teased nurses by saying "look out girls, I've got aids....one in each ear!" He was a practical joker, a teaser, and enjoyed making others laugh. The more others laughed, the happier he was.

Johny and Wandalea both had hearts for missions. After their "retirement" from pastoring and teaching for over 60 years, they took mission trips to Belarus and Malawi, Africa. Preaching while having an interrupter was a new experience for him, and experiencing the different customs of these mission fields made an impression on him. They continued to support the Belarus church for several years after they were no longer able to go back. Johny has pastored all over Missouri, and sometimes in the same area as his grandpa Sconce. He has baptized all of his children, and all of his grandchildren when they accepted Jesus as their Savior.

Johny was predeceased by his parents Wes and Pearl, brothers Oral, Jesse, Otho, Dexter, Raymond; sisters Frieda and Mary Lee; sons in law, John Miller and Jim Smith; as well as his beloved inlaws, Lee, Nora and Arnold Dethrow.

Johny is survived by his wife of 66 years, 4 children: Lanita Smith, Jamesport, MO; Mark and Shirre Sconce, Walnut Grove, MO; Susan and Jay Peach, Merriam, KS; James Sconce of Holden, MO; sister, Lucille Hoffer of Bolivar, MO; 14 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends throughout the state.

He will be sorely missed, but we know where he is, and that we will see him again. Thanks, Dad, for being God's instrument in giving us a spiritual heritage in which we can build upon. See you later!

Masonic Services will be held 6:00PM, Friday, June 23, 2017 at Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, Walnut Grove, MO with visitation immediately following until 8:00PM.  Funeral Services will be 10:00AM, Saturday, June 24, 2017 at First Baptist Church, Walnut Grove, MO with burial to follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Bolivar, MO.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Frist Baptist Church Van Burean Building Fund and may be left at the funeral home.