Johnny Stanford, Sr.

JOHNNY STANFORD Auburn - John Allen "Johnny" Stanford, Sr., 71, went to be with the Lord, Friday, April 25, 2014, at his home after a sudden illness. He was born in Lee County on September 13, 1942, to Rex Vernon and Mary Louise Hall Stanford. A 1961 graduate of Tupelo High School, he then went on to serve in the United States Air Force. He was the manager of the sporting goods department at Hill's Western Auto for 18 years and also worked in sales for Old Dominion Truck Line, Clark Truck Line, William's Transfer & Storage and JESCO. He was an antique dealer at the Raymond Trice & Company Antique Mall in Verona. He was an avid crappie fishing enthusiast, enjoyed gardening, woodworking and "piddling". A good craftsman, he was a master of all broken things and giving life to old items by "upcycling" them into new pieces of art. He was a member of Auburn Baptist Church where he served in the toddler nursery and was known as the "Gold Fish Man". Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, April 28, 2014, at Auburn Baptist Church with Rev. Bob O'Neal and Rev. Jimmy Henry officiating with a graveside service to follow at Auburn Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife of fifty years, Ruth Stanford of Tupelo; one son, Allen Stanford (Jane) of Tupelo; one daughter, Angie Stanford Davis (Tracy) of Pontotoc; four grandchildren, Trey and Alyssa Stanford and Madison Davis and Ashton Davis; two sisters, Jeanette Smith of Tupelo and Lynda Johnson of Tupelo; three sisters-in-law, Margaret Stanford, Jo Haas (Wayne) and Cathy Floyd (Curtis) all of Tupelo; one brother-in-law, Harold Wood (Marge) of North Liberty, Indiana; and a host of very special nieces, nephews and grea-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Stanford. Pallbearers will be Bill Morgan, Andy Gregory, Clark Tucker, Phil Ratliff, Michael Dickerson and Roger Smith. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2014, at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo. Memorials may be made to Auburn Baptist Church, Children's Ministry, 1138 Road 931, Tupelo, MS 38804.