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John Paul Masner
John Paul Masner, 92 of Jonesboro, passed away Monday, June 27, 2016, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born Dec. 12, 1923, in Poplar Ridge Community near Monette to the late Elmore and Meldora Reeves Masner. At the age of two, his parents moved to Monette, where he lived the next 80 years before moving to Jonesboro.
He was a graduate of Monette High School and Arkansas State College. John served in the Army during World War II. He was in Europe and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was surrounded for several days before escaping. After that he joined General George Patton and remained with him until the end of the war. He earned three bronze stars and several other medals.
When he got out of the service, he came home and started farming and continued until his retirement. On Aug. 22, 1953, he married Ann Murrell and enjoyed 57 years together until her death in 2010. He was a member of the Monette First Baptist Church, Monette American Legion Post 136 and was a Mason and a Shriner. He also served as treasurer for the Monette High School Alumni Board for many years.
He is survived by a sister, Billie Wilkes of Virginia; two nephews, Joe Masner of Jonesboro and Tommy Berry of Dallas, Texas; a niece, Carolyn Sockwell of Jonesboro, and a host of friends.
He was also preceded in death by five sisters, Emma Jo Conner, Stella Wallace, Minnie Kaplan, Jessie Jance and Mabel Berry, and two brothers, Elmer Masner and Nath Masner.
A celebration of his life was 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Monette First Baptist Church with Rev. Rusty Bird officiating. Burial followed at Monette Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home of Monette.
The family received friends from noon until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Monette First Baptist Church.
Honored to serve as pallbearers were Clay Stewart, Bob Blankenship, Bob Hurst, Ed Dunbar, Jerry Lynn Halsey Jr. and Bobby Flannigan.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Monette First Baptist Church.
Online: www.mcnabbfuneralhomes.com