John McCants

John McCants, Jr. was born September 24, 1948, in Repton, Alabama, the oldest child of John and Mary McCants. He grew up in Pensacola, Florida, graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1966. He then enlisted in the Navy, volunteering for duty in Vietnam during his last year of service. When he returned home, he and his brother Sam went to Oral Roberts University on basketball scholarships. After his four years at ORU, he married Cathy Severson in May, 1976 in the front yard of his parents home in Pensacola. Their daughter Andrea was born in May 1978 and Aaron was born in October 1980. He had an entrepreneurial gift and bought his first semi truck in 1979. He and Cathy spent 18 years in the long-haul trucking business, John McCants Trucking. They bought Briarwood Car Care in March of 1996. John did the car repair and maintenance while Cathy ran the office. John was much more than just a mechanic. He also handed out life advice, prayers, laughs and hope to many loyal customers over the 18 years they owned this business. When cancer reoccurred in 2013, it forcedtheir retirement in March of 2014. He spent his retirement packing as much life, travel and fishing in as he could. He loved to fish�really loved to be outdoors and watch his pole bend with the weight of the BIG one! Everywhere he traveled he looked for a place to fish. Passing a pond or a lake, he never failed to speculate about what kind of fish might be caught. John was a man of incredible character. His faith in Jesus shown as a bright light. He took the words of John 13:35 seriously. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." He promoted unity in this world with a handshake, his signature smile and a simple greeting. He didn't let you be a stranger. He was a brother to so many people over the years because he fearlessly let them into his heart and they responded in kind. John joined the great cloud of witnesses in the early morning on Wednesday, October 24th. Many including his father, John McCants and his son, Aaron who both passed in 1998, welcomed him to his heavenly home. He made it in time to celebrate Aaron's birthday on October 26. He in survived by his wife of 42 years, Cathy McCants, daughter Andrea Eads (Eugene), his mother Mary McCants, his siblings Elzora, Sam, Hilda and Lucinda. Family was very important to John and he is deeply missed by many nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws and church family. Memorial Service will be 11am, Monday November 5, 2018 at God's Shining Light Church, 9897 E. 11th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, a donation in John's name to God's Shining Light Church.

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John McCants

September 24, 1948 - October 24, 2018