Johnny Coon

Thursday, March 23, 2006

LEE'S SUMMIT - Arthur W. "Johnny" Coon, 84, formerly of Sikeston and New Madrid, passed away on March 21, 2006, at Lee's Summit Hospital in Lee's Summit, following a brief illness.

Born may 31, 1921, at New Madrid, he was the son of the late Arthur Lee Coon and Hermina Unseld Coon. He served in the United States Army, during World War II, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He then began a life-long career with the US Postal Service, serving as the Assistant Postmaster in New Madrid until his retirement in 1973.

On June 15, 1962, he was united in marriage to Betty Jean Phillips, who survives of the home, along with his daughter, Kimberly Jean Grigery and his beloved granddaughter, Chelsea Nicole Grigery.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by: daughters, Dianne Compton and Carroll Compton, her husband, of New Madrid; Marsha Ball and Forrest Ball, her husband, of North Carolina; and Jackie Coon, of Washington; granddaughters, Elizabeth Norris and Chris Norris, her husband, of Alaska, and Jane Ball and Douglas Ball, her husband, and great-granddaughter, Caroline Ball of North Carolina; three sisters, Mary Coon of Sikeston, Hermina Lee "Billie" Coon and Blanche Thompson of New Madrid. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry Clay "Pete" Coon and Alfred Henry "Buddy" Coon.

Mr. Coon's most fulfilling and rewarding role in life was that of loving husband, father and grandfather to Betty, Kim and Chelsea. He excelled in this role and was rewarded with the undying love of his family. He relocated to Lee's Summit in September 2005 so that we could be there as a support group for Chelsea as she attends medical school at UMKC. The idea of any one of us leaving our family unit was unbearable, so the entire family "went to college" with her. He will be very greatly missed, but will live on with us in each of our hearts.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, where funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are welcome.

Paid obituary