John W. Somers

John W. Somers MARION-John W. Somers, 65, of Marion, passed away at 1:45 PM, Saturday, August 6, 2005 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Marion with Reverend Jeff Baker officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday, August 8, 2005 at the church. Blue Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of the arrangements. Burial will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Energy. Memorials may be made to `Gospel For Asia` a Christian ministry which provides funding for native missionaries in Asian countries, envelopes will be available at the church of may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. John was born on August 1, 1940 in Rutherford, Tennessee to William Malcom and Ruby Nell (Hoskins) Somers. He married Judy Bynum on September 4, 1960 in Dyer, Tennessee and she survives. Other survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Jon Mark and Pam Somers and Jeff and Leslie Somers all of Marion; granddaughters, Brittany, Rani, Nicole and Ciara Somers; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Pam Somers of Canyon Lake, Texas; nephews, Mike and Greg Somers of Phoenix, Arizona; step-mother, Janie Somers of Dyer, Tennessee; and a host of friends, whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents. John was called to preach in 1958, when he was a senior in high school. He began his pastoral ministry 2 years later and received degrees from Ouachita Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary, and Luther Rice Seminary. He pastured churches in Tennessee, Indiana, Texas, and Illinois, including the First Baptist Church in DuQuoin. John and Judy, along with Les and Sandy Snyder of West Frankfort, founded Community of Faith Church in November of 1979. He also served as Director of the Department of Evangelism for the Illinois Baptist State Association. He preached in many revivals across the country and spent 36 years in pastoral ministry. To view this obit and sign the register book, visit our website @ bluefuneralhome.com. END OF STORY QUESTIONS: PLEASE CALL BLUE FUNERAL HOME 618-997-5648