John Thomas Leathers

Mr. John Thomas Leathers, age 75, of Toone, departed this life Tuesday afternoon, April 11, 2017 at Bolivar General Hospital.

The son of Thomas Wiley Leathers, Jr. and Ella Marie Hill Leathers, both of whom preceded him in death, he worked as an industrial welder for Chicago Bridge & Iron, retiring in 1986 after an injury. He was born July 8, 1941 in Hardeman County and traveled many places in the country for his job. He helped build the Hernando-DeSoto Bridge in Memphis and nuclear reactors for TVA. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and found an affinity for vegetable gardening in his later years, growing many foods to eat. He was well known for being able to fix just about anything. He served in the National Guard for 6 years and was a member of Whiteville First Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Teresa Cox of Walnut, MS; twin daughters, Patrice McKinnie of Ft. Worth, TX and Denise Duncan of Spring Hill, TN; a son, Rodney Leathers of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Shirley Warner of Whiteville and Wanda Anthony of Bolivar; two brothers, Bedford Leathers of Olive Branch, MS and Larry Leathers of Atoka, TN; several grandchildren and great grandchildren.