John Huse McCoun

John Huse McCoun, 75, of Sheldon, Mo., passed away Thursday, May 1, 2014, at the Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada. He was born Sept. 24, 1938, in Sprague, Mo., to Elmer Joseph and Helen Josephine (Landsman) McCoun. On July 20, 1958, he was united in marriage to Betty Jean Schapeler and she preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 2011. Together the couple became parents of three sons and one daughter.

John attended first and second grades in Sprague, and then grades three though 11th in Rich Hill. In order to enlist in the United States Navy, John fibbed a bit regarding his age for military admission, then went on to gain his GED and served our country, retiring as a senior chief boiler repairman and inspector. His military career began July 23, 1956, until his Honorable Discharge on Aug. 15, 1974. His last duty assignment command was the USS Sierra.

After his military duty he moved back to the Rich Hill area where he soon began employment with KCPL, lasting from 1975-80. In 1980, he began working for Bendix in Kansas City and remained employed there until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of the Boilermakers Union Local 533 in Kansas City. In the early 1990s, he relocated to Sheldon and made that area his home for the remainder of his life.

John was a man of extreme generosity, someone willing to help anyone with anything. Aside from his family, his great loves were being outside, cutting wood, and mowing yards -- but most of all, welding was his greatest passion. He was a longtime member of the Sheldon Christian Church where he could be found helping with any church project that might be underway. He enjoyed going to the Senior Center and was also a Mason having belonged to the local lodge in Norfolk, Va.

Survivors include his children, Tim McCoun and his wife, Brenda, of Appleton City, Terry McCoun and his wife, Sheila, of Plattsburg, Tom McCoun and his wife, Leslie, of Horton, and Traci Ussery and her husband, Alvin, of Sheldon; two brothers, Samuel McCoun and his wife, Fay, of Butler, and Donald McCoun and his wife, Irene, of Kansas City; nine grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends. Aside from his wife, Betty, John was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Ruby Irene.

Funeral services for John Huse McCoun will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, at the Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., just prior to the service, also at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Rich Hill.

Contributions may be made in Mr. McCoun's name to Heartland Hospice in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.