John Thomas Houston, Sr.

            John Thomas Houston, Sr., was born, January 28, 1939 to Rev. Dunk K. and Bernice Briggs Houston in Louin, Mississippi. He was the 6th child born to this union.   His wife Beverly,  parents and siblings:  Lundell (Red), Ottis, Robert, Dorthea, Hellene, all preceded him in death. 

            In 1948, The Houston Family moved from Mississippi to Kansas City, KS.  John attended Douglass Elementary, Northeast Junior High School, graduating from Sumner High School in 1959.   He remained loyal to the Black and Orange Spartan Nation.

            John’s father, the Reverend Dunk Houston was a Baptist Minister and John was baptized at a young age in Mississippi.  He joined Shiloh Baptist Church and later attended church with his family at King Solomon Baptist Church and Abundant Life Church in later years.

            John was Honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1956.  When he came home he worked for General Motors working and retiring in 2001 with 33+ years of Service.  He worked in several departments his last position as a diagnostic technician.  

     John married the former Beverly Ann Ivory, February 15, 1969.  He saw Beverly as he walked to work, and the rest is history.  John and Beverly were months shy of their 50th Anniversary when the Lord called Beverly home.   John and Beverly were blessed to be the parents of Kim Charisse, John Thomas, Jr., Jason Kiline and Jermain Kendall.  A blended family, John brought his daughter Virgie (Johnnie) to be a part of their family.  

            John loved the out of doors.  Fast Cars (his beloved Corvette), Fishing (his beloved boat), Hunting and the art of Gaming (his beloved gun and rifle collection).  John had the best of everything that he possessed.  He passed on his love for the out of doors to all his children and his grandchildren.   The word on the street is that when John came home from a day of the game of choice the eating was on.  John was famous for the following dishes:  rabbit and wild rice; frog legs, quail, and any type of fish with fried potatoes.  His love for cooking for friends and family will live on in the memory of those who were blessed to partake.

            John was an active member of the Lodge.   John and Beverly loved road trips visiting family out of state. 

            John and Beverly lovingly took care of their grandchildren as needed.  But there were two who hung for years, Kim’s girls, Parris and Kennadi.   Before and after school, they spent time with their granddad, helping to keep the house tidy and then making sure they all had dinner together.  This practice remains.  Parris and Kennadi though trained by the Grandma were the best company for John, Sr.   

            John parked the Corvette, hung up his fishing gear and parked the boat, he left his chair in the living room, where the girls kept it just liked he wanted it and he answered God call on Wednesday morning, August 23, 2023.

            He leaves a host of family who will fondly remember him:  his children:  Virgie (Johnnie) Houston, Kim (Pius) Houston Frye, John (Pamela) T. Houston, Jr., Jason (Sabrina) Houston and Jermaine K. (Christie) Houston; Grandchildren: Fredricka, Sharon, Shereese, Christian, Jared, Dominick, Cameron, Andrew, Matthew, Morgan, Kyleah, Jalen, Parris, Jada, Kennadi; Great-GraAndchildren: Phoenix, Amara and Malachi; Sister: Flo Nell Rush; Brother: Billie (Emma) Houston; In-Laws: Verton Franks (Debra) Ivory and Jerome Allan Ivory; Beverly’s Aunts:  Enita Alexander and Lucy Dwight; his best friend, Tracy Bobo, and a host of nieces, hephews, cousins, classmates and friends.

            John will be glady awaiting your arrival on the shore up above….getting his fishing game on!

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