John A Prance, Jr., 72, of Dexter, Missouri passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri.
John, son of the late John Albert Prance, Sr. and Velma Maxine Waltrip Prance, was born on March 31, 1948 near Clarkton, Missouri.
On November 28, 1968, he was united in marriage to Suzanne Smith Prance in Campbell, Missouri. He is survived by his wife Suzie, his daughter Julie Mangum and her husband Stacy of Dexter, Missouri. His son J.R. Prance and wife Katrina of Bloomfield, Missouri, by seven grandchildren Abby Mangum Nepean and her husband Trenton of Columbia, Missouri, Nate Mangum, Libby Mangum, Clay Prance, Blaine Prance, Adeline Prance and Levi Prance. His children and grandchildren were the light of his life. He is also survived by one sister Connie Prance Hampton and her Husband Bill of Deland, Florida.
He was a member of the Dexter church of Christ.
John moved his family to Dexter, Missouri in 1976 and embraced the community wholeheartedly. He had the heart of a servant and was always willing to volunteer and help in any capacity needed for his church or community. He was a member of the Stoddard County Civil Defense Unit (later called Emergency Management) and spent countless hours watching the skies in stormy weather to help protect the community. He never met a stranger and lived his life according to his father’s philosophy that “if you can’t joke and cut up in this life, the world would be a dull place to live.”
John proudly served his country as a member of the United States Air Force and was a Vietnam Veteran. He will be laid to rest at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri on Monday, December 28, 2020. Due to the covid pandemic no service is planned at this time and a public memorial service will be announced at a later date with full military honors.
Memorial donations may be made to the following: Children’s Home, Inc. 5515 Walcott Rd., Paragould, AR 72450; Bootheel Youth Camp, 21200 CR 525, Bloomfield, MO 63825; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN.
