John M. Wilson

Funeral services for John Meyers Wilson, 82 of Gainesville, are scheduled for 2:00 PM on Friday, January 5, 2018 at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home with Bro. Wiley Sullivan officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 4 at the funeral home.

Mr. Wilson passed away December 31, 2017 in Denison.

John was born April 3, 1935 in Gainesville to Carl Howard and Minnie Ann (Leftwich) Wilson. He married Flora Mae Huddleston on September 21, 1957 in Fort Worth. Although Mr. Wilson stopped attending school at an early age to sell newspapers in order to help his family, he eventually earned a degree to become a reserve deputy for the Cooke County Sherriff’s Department. He retired as an inspector following 30 years with Weber Aircraft. A man of many talents, Mr. Wilson was also a mechanic, locksmith, licensed pilot, built his own airplane, and was well known as “Happy the Clown”, entertaining children at parties and hospitals by making balloon animals. His hobbies also included: dirt track stock car racing, horseback riding, and traveling with his wife on their motorcycles. Mr. Wilson was loved by many and will fondly be remembered.

Survivors include: son Ronnie Wilson and his wife Linda; daughter Sherry Glenn; daughter Joyce Wilson; and son Carl Wilson, all of Gainesville; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by: his wife of 60 years, Flora Mae Wilson; his parents; daughter Connie Wilson Timms; grandson Jody Wilson; brother: Carl Jr., Howard, Jack, and Herbert; and sisters: Leta Hobbs; and Anna Belle Scott.

Serving as pallbearers are: Casey Glenn, Cordy Glenn, Jake Wilson, Chris Glenn, Lee Pankratz, Charlie Pankratz, Bryan Wilson, and Jeremy Proffer.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Ronnie Sue Pankratz and Sheila Morrell for the care given to their parents.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Dallas, 3001 Knox St., Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75205.