John David Emerson

John David Emerson, of Russell Springs, passed away at his home on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.  He was 80 years of age.

John was born in Urbana, Illinois, on September 18, 1940, son of the late Avery and Lula Aaron Emerson.  He was a veteran of the United States Army.  John worked many jobs through his working years.  He worked for Charlie Bell Pontiac, for Bill Prather at the Somerset Volkswagen dealership, hauled mobile homes for the Jasper Mobile Home dealership, for Fred and Morris Skidmore at Skidmore’s Used Cars, and spent many years on the road and in the shop for Jim Sharpe at Sharpe Houseboats.  He made a lot friends along the way. 

John and his brother, “Red-eye”, loved dirt track racing.  He loved sports and kept up with all the local teams.  He loved watching the Cincinnati Reds.  John attended the Dunnville Church of God.

He is survived by his daughters, Joni (and Peter) Diehl, of Bozeman, Montana, Jill (and Mike) Flynn, of Nancy; his grandchildren, James Marshall Maguire and Jillian Ava Maguire, both of Nancy, and Mallory Diehl, of Bozeman, Montana; his best friend, Barbara Hammond Emerson, of Somerset; brother, Tom Sanders, of Helena, Montana; sister, Charlotte (and Ben) Smith, of Indianapolis; sister-in-law, Katie Emerson, of Nancy; and many friends and other relatives.

John is preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, James Avery Emerson.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 12:00 noon, CST, at Bernard Funeral Home, with Bro. Ted Stidham officiating.  Burial will follow in Mill Springs National Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Mike Flynn, Marshall Maguire, Roy Burdine, Billy Joe Barker, Bobby Garcia and Frankie Girdler.

Visitation will be after 10:00 a.m. CST, Tuesday, until time for funeral services.

A special thank you to Kay Kemp, Jerry Harris and Jimmy Dick for seeing after John in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Russell County Senior Center, 132 Brian Walters Drive, Russell Springs, KY 42642.

John’s arrangements are entrusted to Bernard Funeral Home.  An on-line guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com

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