John James Creson, age 88, of Springfield, MO Passed away Nov. 13, 2011 in St. John’s Hospital.
Son of Frank and Ethel (Anderson) Creson, John was born July 31, 1923 in Strafford, MO. After graduation from Strafford High School, he entered Southwest Missouri State. After two years, he joined the Marines to serve his country in World War II and served in the Pacific Island two years, most of the time on the Island of Guam. Returning home from the Marines, he returned to Southwest Missouri State. While working part-time at the Boys and Girls Club, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1948 and his Masters of Education degree from Central Missouri State in 1954.
From 1948 to 1972 John taught Physical Education and coached Basketball at Reed Junior High in Springfield. During this time he worked part-time at the Boys Club, the Greene County Park Board and Refereed many Basketball games in surrounding towns. In 1954 John went to work at the U.S. Medical Center for Prisoners, developing programs in the Recreation-Education Department where he retired in 1980.
John was a member of the American Legion, The National Education Association, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Retired Teachers Association of Missouri and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. John loved to travel, he enjoyed all sports, was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and avid follower of the MSU Lady Bears. John found a lot of joy keeping up friendships with former students such as Breakfast with the Hillcrest 59ers, Wednesday and Friday evening get together with former Coaches and afternoons with longtime friends at Ziggy’s.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Betty Ann Creson; children, John F. Creson, Evon Creson Rhoades (Myron), Don E. Nivens and Jill A. Harless all of Springfield, MO; brother-in-law, Kenneth (Lois) Lechner; nephew, William Weber of Trukee, CA; grandchildren, Bradley E. Davis, Whitney Shaw-Hamp (Courtney), Megan N. Creson, Laura A. Shaw, Monica M. Nivens and 2 great-grandchildren, Donavan Nivens and Lincoln Davis.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Dolly D. and Hugh Weber and nephew Robert Weber.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17th in Greenlawn Funeral Home South. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16th in the funeral home.