John Harper

John Douglas Harper Jr. left this world on Monday, March 13, 2023, in his home with his wife Jerri. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 18, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home with Pastor Tom Warnock officiating, followed by burial at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6:00pm to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 17, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home.

John was born on May 14th, 1959, in Waco, Texas, to John Douglas Harper, Sr. and Dorothy Nell Maedgen. John was raised alongside his 3 brothers, Bobbie, Ronnie, and Tony Harper, in McGregor, Texas. In his high school days, John played football competitively, until a knee injury cut short his football career. After graduating, John enlisted in the United States Navy (“in the Navy”), where he served on ships and rose ranks rapidly until he was honorably discharged. Following his exit from the Navy, John began his career. John was a skilled technician and applied his talent to multiple disciplines. He ultimately decided to master his skills in welding – a trade that he imparted to his son, Justin Harper. Throughout his life, John valued enjoyment and fun, as his friends and family remember from his laid-back approach to life, his jet black mustache and unkempt hair, his shocking sense of humor, his intense games of Scrabble, Yahtzee, Dominoes, and Cards Against Humanity (much to his children’s chagrin), and his camping excursions, adventures, and road trips with his wife. John also loved to fish, hunt, and teach others many of the things that he’s learned over the years. John married his current wife, Jerri, on June 4, 2022, and would often joke that their Brady Bunch family was complete, with 3 boys and 3 girls of their own. John also found a lot of fulfillment in his recent role as Pop-Pop to LJ. John found God and became closer to The Lord in the later years of his life, and he highly valued being part of the community at Old West Cowboy Church. John was also someone who loved his friends, family, and pets deeply, and frequently put their needs in front of his own.

He was preceded in death by his former wife, Virgina Ann Harper; his brother, Ronnie; and his parents, John and Dorothy.

He is survived by his current wife, Jerri Harper; his brothers Tony and Bobbie; his two sons, Justin Harper and Tanner Harper; his daughter, Shelby Harper; his two step-daughters, Jessica Finley and Haley Strother, his step-son, Tommy Woolbright; and many grandchildren, nephews, and nieces who loved and will miss him.