John Draper

(From Parker Mortuary)

John Marion Draper, age 71, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Mercy of Joplin.

John was born November 5, 1948 in Mexico, Missouri, son of the late Neville and Lola (Graves) Draper. He graduated from Carterville High School, attended Missouri Southern State University before being drafted to serve in the United States Army. He served in Berlin, Germany during the Vietnam Conflict before returning to Carterville. 

On July 9, 1976, he married Regina "Gina" Hatten. He loved his family and was devoted to raising their girls and grandsons. There was no place that he would rather be than on the lake with his family. He worked for nearly 40 years with Southwestern Bell, now AT&T, before retiring. He was also a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife, Regina "Gina" Hatten Draper, who passed away on February 28, 2010.

Survivors include his daughters, Amanda Dawn Draper and Melissa Lynn Draper; grandsons, Johnathan Tyler Draper and Jaydan Taylor Draper all of Joplin; sister, Vicky Dally of Nevada, Missouri; niece, Marla Hess and husband Sebastian of Waterloo, Belgium.

Graveside service with full military honors will be Friday, October 2, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with Johnathan Draper, Jaydan Draper, Kendon Porter, Chad Burrington, Drew Hodson, and Ritchie Randall serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Friday from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. prior to the graveside service.