Johnnie Moyers

Johnnie S. "John" Moyers, 84, of Oak Ridge passed away Monday, March 14, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 18, 1920, in Marquand, Mo., son of Ira S. and Lauretta E. Farmer Moyers. He and Ruby Merritt were married Dec. 12, 1942. She passed away Sept. 17, 1985. He and Janice P. Burkley were married July 31, 1987.

John farmed and sawmilled in the Marquand area. He was inducted into the U.S. Army at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Dec. 10, 1942. The recipient of four Bronze Stars, John served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters, and was in the Anzio Beach Head Battle in the Italian Campaign. He was honorably discharged Nov. 22, 1945, at Jefferson Barracks.

After his military service, John returned to Southeast Missouri and worked as a truck driver for Wetterau Foods, retiring in 1982.

John enjoyed raising and training beagles and was a member of SEMO Beagle Club. He was a life member of VFW Post 3127 in Chaffee, Mo. He also played music with the Daisy Travelers in local churches and nursing homes.

Loving survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael (Jo Karen) Moyers of Wappapello, Mo., Ronald (Joy) Moyers of Chaffee; a daughter, Sandra (Greg) Wheaton of Marion, Ill.; four stepsons, Danny Davis of Oak Ridge, Russell (Crystal) Davis of Anniston, Ala., Lee (DeAnna) Davis of Fruitland, Ken Davis of Roswell, N.M.; and a stepdaughter, Cheryl (Brian) Reis of Spanaway, Wash.

Also surviving are two brothers, Audie Moyers of Patton, Mo., Herusel Moyers of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Novella Lunsford and Doretta Martin of Park Hills, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and five great-stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and an infant sister.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Grant Gillard officiating. Interment will be in Patton Methodist Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice or the American Cancer Society.