John L Heartsill

WEATHERFORD -- John L. Heartsill passed away Saturday, Sept. 20, 2009, after a brief illness. Service: A celebration of the life of John L. Heartsill will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Baptist Church, where he was a former Sunday school teacher and deacon. Interment: Greenwood Community Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at White's Funeral Home in Weatherford. All of John L's many friends and customers are invited to attend and share any thoughts you may remember about John L. Pallbeares: Doug Turpin, Johnny Chesney, Mike Cox, Marvin H. McGuire IV, John L. Heartsill McGuire, Matthew L. McGuire, Thomas Riddle and Stan Barber. Honorary pallbearers: W.R. "Dub" Riddle, Fred Winstead, Mac Hammer, his former AG students, the athletes he refereed and all former Texas A&M students. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals on Wheels, the Weatherford Senior Service Center or a charity of your choice. John L was born Dec. 10, 1915, to the marriage of John L Heartsill and Gertrude Hedrick Heartsill. John L's father passed away when Gertrude was pregnant with John L and so John L and his older brother, William Hedrick Heartsill, and sisters, Elizabeth Heartsill and Virginia Blair Rohten, were left to make it on their own before the coming Great Depression. With no safety net of Social Security, the whole family worked to make ends meet and survive. John L would ride in a horse-drawn buggy with his grandfather, Dr. William A. Heartsill, to the Parker County "Poor Farm" to care for the indigent and less fortunate. The poverty made a lasting impression and instilled the desire to always be charitable and give a helping hand to his fellow man. He worked from an early age, selling vegetables from the family garden, caddying at Live Oak Country Club and mowing lawns around the city of Weatherford. He had a paper route from the age of 6 years old, working for the Daily Herald, until he graduated from Weatherford College in 1934. John L was a distinguished student and athlete. He and his doubles tennis partner, James Doss, while at Weatherford College defeated the Southwest Conference tennis doubles champions. John L's golf career started early. He won the Weatherford City Golf championship, defeating a former Texas state amateur champion. He was an avid bridge, poker and dominoes player, winning the Texas state domino championship in Halletsville. After graduating from Weatherford College, John L pursued his education at the University of Texas at Austin graduating with a bachelor of science in 1937. While at UT, he worked for room and board at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel and also worked as a page in the Legislature for Sen. Woodruff of Waco. John L was a proud Aggie of the class of 1940. He found a brotherhood at A&M that lasted his whole life. John L taught agriculture at Hutto until accepting the position of agriculture teacher for the Weatherford school district in 1942. He coached girls' basketball, drove the bus and formed the Weatherford Booster Club. John L refereed high school basketball for many years. John L Heartsill Store was founded in 1947, selling sporting goods, hardware and tires. John L provided credit to those in need, no matter of their color or station in life and hasn't charged one penny of interest to this day. For many years he had a very popular radio program called "A Conversation with John L" on radio station KZEE. He received the Hood/Parker County Soil Conservation Award for improvements to his ranch. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias for over 60 years. John L loved his family, his fellow man and life. he will be missed, but he had a great life. No one had a better one. John L was preceded in death by his daughters, Linda Heartsill McGuire and Betty Lou Heartsill; and a loving son-in-law, M "Mick" H. McGuire III. Survivors: His wife of 67 years, Mayme Barber Heartsill; sons, Sam and wife, Cheryl, and Dan