Obituary for John Thomas Person
John Thomas Person, 91, beloved husband of Bernice Hutton Person, entered Heaven on September 15, 2023 in Kerrville.
John Tom, as he was known to his friends and family, was the son of Everett Edward Person and Vera Chappell Person. He was born in Stockdale on August 18, 1932. Just two years after losing his loving mother to leukemia, John Tom graduated from Stockdale High School in 1949. He followed his grandfather John Harvey Chappell (Baylor University, Class of 1905) to Baylor University where he studied chemistry. His studies were cut short in 1953 when he was drafted during the Korean War. He married Bernice, and they moved to El Paso where he served in an administrative role at Fort Bliss. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and returned to Waco where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry. After graduation, John Tom and Bernice settled in Houston where he worked for Drill-Chem as their head of research. Over several years, Drill-Chem evolved into Cumberland Chemical where he became an equity partner. During his time at Cumberland, he oversaw work across chemical plants in Texas, Mexico, El Salvador, and Ecuador and secured several patents related to herbicides and cotton defoliants.
John Tom’s diverse interests ranged from sports (as an avid tennis player and golfer) to music (as a devotee of eclectic styles—Gilbert & Sullivan, Golden Age showtunes, and Gary P. Nunn) to gardening (as a chemist who kept detailed journals documenting his planting pursuits). But the pinnacle of his interest centered on his beloved Baylor Bears. A dedicated fan in good seasons and bad, John Tom held the unique privilege of attending the last football game at the Waco Municipal Stadium, the first and final football games in Floyd Casey Stadium, and the first football game at McLane Stadium.
His most valued role was that of “Granddaddy” to his six granddaughters. In the early years, John Tom was known to rush from the sanctuary after church on Sunday mornings to be the first to arrive at the nursery to pick up his granddaughters from Sunday School. As “the girls” grew and their milestones evolved from dance recitals and school events to graduations, weddings, and the births of their own children, his presence was a constant. He always showed up—a practice he instilled in his family. In recent years, he inherited an additional title, “Mommy’s Granddaddy,” as his granddaughters welcomed children of their own.
Even though he lived away from Stockdale, he always remained close. He was active in agriculture (peanut farming) and running cattle with his brother. They spent many years between their two places tending to cattle and repairing fences. He would often reminisce about spending time with his own grandparents and extended Chappell family on Cibolo Creek.
Whether in Houston, Stockdale, or Kerrville, John and Bernice’s home was a haven to friends and family—a place of faith and fellowship for all who were blessed to know them. Over the years, their influence was significant across the various formal and informal communities they served—the “49ers” (their high school classmates who gathered regularly until recent years), their church communities (Garden Oaks Baptist Church in Houston where John served as a Deacon for many years; First Baptist Church of Stockdale; and Trinity Baptist Church of Kerrville), and even the assisted living center (Brookdale Assisted Living, Kerrville) where John spent the final months of his life. His final weeks were busy with an almost constant stream of visitors paying their respects to the reserved man who offered unreserved love and generosity to so many. In addition to grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was visited by numerous extended family including treasured cousins, nieces and nephews and their families, and even college friends of his children—a testament of his impact and legacy.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Bernice; his three children, Nancy Person Moran (Bobby), John Steven Person (Diana), and Kathy Suzanne Person; his six granddaughters, Meredith Moran Bernsen (Cade), Jordan Person Kenna (Greg), Erin Person Garcia (Adam), Mandi Moran Sprayberry (Ryan), Klare Moran Tucker (Colton), and Hutton Elise Person; as well as his eight great-grandchildren, Clara Channing Bernsen, Chappell Anne Bernsen, Whitley Ray Sprayberry, Everett Person Kenna, David Hutton Bernsen, John Grady Sprayberry, Adaline Jean Tucker, and Harper Diana Kenna. He is preceded in death by his younger brother James Edward Person and two great-grandsons, Doak and Bexar Sprayberry.
A visitation and memorial service will take place at First Baptist Church, Stockdale. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. culminating in the burial at Stockdale Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Cade Bernsen, Greg Kenna, Adam Garcia, Ryan Sprayberry, Colton Tucker, Ryne Hutton, and Hayes Hutton. Honorary pallbearers are Bart Hutton and Brad Hutton.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Brookdale Assisted Living and Alamo Hospice for their loving care and support.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church of Stockdale (202 South Seventh Street, Stockdale, Texas 78160) or Alamo Hospice via The Hope Foundation (https://alamohospice.com/donate/).
John Tom, as he was known to his friends and family, was the son of Everett Edward Person and Vera Chappell Person. He was born in Stockdale on August 18, 1932. Just two years after losing his loving mother to leukemia, John Tom graduated from Stockdale High School in 1949. He followed his grandfather John Harvey Chappell (Baylor University, Class of 1905) to Baylor University where he studied chemistry. His studies were cut short in 1953 when he was drafted during the Korean War. He married Bernice, and they moved to El Paso where he served in an administrative role at Fort Bliss. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and returned to Waco where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry. After graduation, John Tom and Bernice settled in Houston where he worked for Drill-Chem as their head of research. Over several years, Drill-Chem evolved into Cumberland Chemical where he became an equity partner. During his time at Cumberland, he oversaw work across chemical plants in Texas, Mexico, El Salvador, and Ecuador and secured several patents related to herbicides and cotton defoliants.
John Tom’s diverse interests ranged from sports (as an avid tennis player and golfer) to music (as a devotee of eclectic styles—Gilbert & Sullivan, Golden Age showtunes, and Gary P. Nunn) to gardening (as a chemist who kept detailed journals documenting his planting pursuits). But the pinnacle of his interest centered on his beloved Baylor Bears. A dedicated fan in good seasons and bad, John Tom held the unique privilege of attending the last football game at the Waco Municipal Stadium, the first and final football games in Floyd Casey Stadium, and the first football game at McLane Stadium.
His most valued role was that of “Granddaddy” to his six granddaughters. In the early years, John Tom was known to rush from the sanctuary after church on Sunday mornings to be the first to arrive at the nursery to pick up his granddaughters from Sunday School. As “the girls” grew and their milestones evolved from dance recitals and school events to graduations, weddings, and the births of their own children, his presence was a constant. He always showed up—a practice he instilled in his family. In recent years, he inherited an additional title, “Mommy’s Granddaddy,” as his granddaughters welcomed children of their own.
Even though he lived away from Stockdale, he always remained close. He was active in agriculture (peanut farming) and running cattle with his brother. They spent many years between their two places tending to cattle and repairing fences. He would often reminisce about spending time with his own grandparents and extended Chappell family on Cibolo Creek.
Whether in Houston, Stockdale, or Kerrville, John and Bernice’s home was a haven to friends and family—a place of faith and fellowship for all who were blessed to know them. Over the years, their influence was significant across the various formal and informal communities they served—the “49ers” (their high school classmates who gathered regularly until recent years), their church communities (Garden Oaks Baptist Church in Houston where John served as a Deacon for many years; First Baptist Church of Stockdale; and Trinity Baptist Church of Kerrville), and even the assisted living center (Brookdale Assisted Living, Kerrville) where John spent the final months of his life. His final weeks were busy with an almost constant stream of visitors paying their respects to the reserved man who offered unreserved love and generosity to so many. In addition to grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was visited by numerous extended family including treasured cousins, nieces and nephews and their families, and even college friends of his children—a testament of his impact and legacy.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Bernice; his three children, Nancy Person Moran (Bobby), John Steven Person (Diana), and Kathy Suzanne Person; his six granddaughters, Meredith Moran Bernsen (Cade), Jordan Person Kenna (Greg), Erin Person Garcia (Adam), Mandi Moran Sprayberry (Ryan), Klare Moran Tucker (Colton), and Hutton Elise Person; as well as his eight great-grandchildren, Clara Channing Bernsen, Chappell Anne Bernsen, Whitley Ray Sprayberry, Everett Person Kenna, David Hutton Bernsen, John Grady Sprayberry, Adaline Jean Tucker, and Harper Diana Kenna. He is preceded in death by his younger brother James Edward Person and two great-grandsons, Doak and Bexar Sprayberry.
A visitation and memorial service will take place at First Baptist Church, Stockdale. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. culminating in the burial at Stockdale Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Cade Bernsen, Greg Kenna, Adam Garcia, Ryan Sprayberry, Colton Tucker, Ryne Hutton, and Hayes Hutton. Honorary pallbearers are Bart Hutton and Brad Hutton.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Brookdale Assisted Living and Alamo Hospice for their loving care and support.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church of Stockdale (202 South Seventh Street, Stockdale, Texas 78160) or Alamo Hospice via The Hope Foundation (https://alamohospice.com/donate/).