1952-2024
John Clark Courson, 72, of Lake Village, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2024, surrounded by his loving family and friends. A devoted husband, father, coach, friend, and servant of Christ, John leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and dedication to his family and community.
John was born on August 12, 1952, in Crossett, AR, to the late Harry "Doc" Courson and Betty Courson Whitworth. Throughout his life, he exemplified the virtues of kindness, strength, and a servant’s heart. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Sancy, and their three sons: Josh, Chris, and Matt, each of whom he adored and coached throughout their lives. Coaching wasn’t just a role for John; it was his passion. His influence extended well beyond his own family as he coached countless children, helping to shape the lives of many young people in his community. John is also survived by his beloved daughters-in-love, Katie and Mandy Courson. One of John's greatest joys was being "Gramps" to his six grandchildren: Presley, Jack, Haysley, Millie, Maeve, and Rose Courson. He is also survived by his three sisters, Harriet Myers, Renee Hackworth, and Betty (Danny) Parker, along with his brother-in-law, John (Jill) Ogles, and sister-in-law, Betsy (Gary) Orr. John was a favorite son of Sancy’s parents, Peggy and Jack Carey. He was known as Uncle Johnny to countless nieces and nephews, whom he adored throughout the years.
John graduated from Hamburg High School class of 1970, where he was a member of the football team and served as class president. He went on to attend and graduate from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he met the love of his life, Sancy. John was a proud member of the Phi Lambda Chi fraternity, where he formed lifelong friendships that stood the test of time. An avid outdoorsman, John loved spending his mornings on Lake Chicot crappie fishing with his buddies, hunting in the woods with his sons, and camping with his friends. He was also an avid Razorback fan and enjoyed attending games with his three sons. John began working at Clearwater Paper Corporation in 1977, where he retired as Safety Manager in 2015.
A man of unwavering Christian faith, John found great joy in serving others and living for the Lord. His life was a testament to his belief in the power of faith and community. He was always ready to lend a hand or offer guidance to those in need. Over the years, John was an active member of Promise Land Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of McGehee, where he served as an ordained deacon. Most recently, he was an active member of Lake Village Baptist Church, where he served his church community with special projects and regularly attended the Monday morning men’s breakfast with his brothers in Christ.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 22,2024 at First Baptist Church in McGehee, AR, where family and friends will gather to honor the memory of a remarkable man. Visitation will be held on October 21, 2024 between the hours of 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Griffin Culpepper Funeral Chapel of McGehee, Arkansas.. Official pallbearers are Melvin Hicks, Greg Dennis, Fred Cowen, Larry Sanderlin, Denny Barrett, Gary Terry, Jerry Palmer, Timothy Wells, Lee Pinkus, Ladd Pinkus, David Newton, and Brian Smith. Honorary pallbearers consist of his Men’s Coffee and Conversation group from Lake Village Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the LVBC Renovation fund in John’s name, continuing his mission of service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a final token of love and service to his fellow man, John was an organ donor and made the commitment to help those in need.
LVBC Renovation Fund
301 N. Lakeshore Drive
Lake Village, 71653
