St. Clair County Obits

JOHN SAMUEL BARCLAY

El Dorado Sun
Thursday, 19 March 2008
John Samuel Barclay, 88, El Dorado Springs, passed away on March 15, 2008, at Cedar County Memorial
Hospital. John was born Oct. 10, 1919, in Osceola, the only child of Oscar L. and Lettie M. (Wright) Barclay.
John spent his early childhood in Osceola and Roscoe. He graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in
1937. He was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shriner's and a member of the local VFW Post.
On April 11, 1941, he was inducted into the Army. He received his basic training at Ft. Lewis, WA, and left
the states on Aug. 28, 1941. His battalion, in which he trained, was split up and his company was sent to
Alaska and the rest to the Philippines. His outfit was scheduled to join the others, but war was declared and they remained in Alaska. He received an honorable discharge on Sept. 29, 1945.
After returning from the war, he started work at the International Shoe Factory, where he met his future wife, Leola Fern Davis. John and Fern were married Jan. 9, 1947, only being apart when one or the other was in the hospital. To this union three children were born – Steven Art, Deanna Lee and Sheila Sue.
John had a good sense of humor and managed to get a smile from most people he met John retired from Mid
America Dairy in 1982. After retirement, he looked after his parents, worked in his garden and enjoyed
his grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his son, Steven Art, Feb. 9, 1950, his father, Oscar, July 8, 1983, and his
mother, Lettie, June 3, 1991.
Survivors include his wife, Fern, of the home; two daughters, Deanna Lee Shouse and husband, Guy, and
Sheila Sue Benham and her husband, Gary – all of El Dorado Springs; six grandchildren – Kent Shouse and
wife, Jessy – Joplin, Lee Shouse – Joplin, Whitney Benham – Ottawa, KS, Margaret, Josh and Katie Benham – El Dorado Springs; and a sister-in-law, Bettie Davis – El Dorado Springs. He will be sadly missed by a host of family and friends.
Services were held Monday, March 17, at the Hackleman
Chapel with Rev. James Coleman and Rev. Brent Bland officiating. Music was provided by Vera Bourland. A visitation was held at the chapel Sunday afternoon with Masonic Rites. Burial was in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. Pallbearers were his fellow Masonic brothers – Ron Zimmerman, Ed Morlan, George Reeves, Jim Ogle, Jerl Leonard and Ed Gettys.