John (Lil Abner) Switzer

Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Rev. Rick Cooper will officiate. Honorary pallbearers: Damon Tucker, Chris Pewitt, Jeffrey Long, Ken Nance, Greg Orr, and Kenneth Orr.

John was born on September 10, 1944, the son of Forrest Glen and Rachel Lois (Stratton) Switzer in McLean, Texas. He was a retired truck driver for Durban Trucking & Pat's Trucking. He was a member of the Pentacostal Church.

John grew up with two older sisters, Glenda and Laura. His early years were spent living at a gasoline plant camp near Kellerville, Texas. He attended first through eighth grade at Kellerville Elementary School and then transferred to McLean High School. While at McLean High School, John played both basketball and football. He graduated from McLean in 1962.

Growing up in the country provided John with many opportunities to satisfy his adventurous nature and spirit, some of which proved to be very dangerous to his health.

His "big" sisters could tell many stories about their "baby" brother that most people who knew John wouldn't believe. He was very mischievous and frequently teased his sisters by taking their dolls and not returning them in the same condition. As sisters might, they thought John was spoiled. John was the favorite child at all of the family gatherings because of his outgoing personality, size and cuteness. One of John's cousins remembered the time that he removed a fuse from a roman candle. When gunpowder was used to replace the fuse and the candle was ignited, she almost burned an empty lot near the house. She always described him as her "little cousin".

Church attendance and going to family reunions were common place events in the early years especially since his grandmother was a Pentecostal minister. Glenda remembers the first Christmas program at church in which John participated. He was to recite a bible verse in front of the congregation, but instead of the verse, John began telling all the Christmas stories that he ever heard. His mother had to get up and remove John from the platform. This is just another example of his story telling skills.

John was a tall man who had a big heart just like his father. He never met a stranger and as the saying goes would give you "the shirt off his back" if he liked you or thought you were in need.

He could visit with anyone about anything and was often inclined to do just that. His stories were often long and in some instances almost believable. He loved to give directions to locations - and it didn't seem to matter if the person to whom he was giving the directions had been there before or not.

John was the outdoor type. At an early age he showed interest in both hunting and fishing. He often went on trips with his father and buddies. John often went deer hunting with his dad. On one such trip, he was expecting a big breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes and became very upset and disappointed when a continental breakfast was what was served. He loved and collected guns and knives throughout his adult life.

He spent his professional life as an over the road truck driver. He was able to travel many places and see much of the country. John was often on the road and enjoyed this life very much. He worked for several companies in the Bridgeport area and was driving a truck when he suffered a near fatal heart attack in October of 2006. After quintuple by-pass surgery, John was never able to return to the road.

He spent the last few months of his life battling various health conditions. At the time of his death, he was residing at the Bridgeport Health Care Facility where he once again was the favorite of residents in the facility. John was loved by the residents.

He will be missed by family and friends and remembered as a kind and gentle man.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are: sisters: Glenda Lois Roachelle of Walnut Creek, California, Laura Mae Switzer of Edmond, Oklahoma; niece and nephew: Laura and James Roachelle; great niece and nephews: Krista Kissler, Liam Roachelle, Michael and Matthew Fitz-Patrick.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the American Heart Association.

Hawkins Funeral Home Bridgeport, 940-683-2211