SSG (RET) John Henry Tatum

SSG (RET) John Henry Tatum, 70, of Junction City, passed away on July 29, 2022, at University of Kansas Medical Center. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 11, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home, 203 N. Washington St. Following the visitation, a graveside service will be held at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. with full military honors. A celebration of life will follow the graveside service at 12th Street Community Center in Junction City, KS at 3:00 p.m.

John was born on January 13, 1952, in Hattiesburg, MS, to John Henry Lane and Mattie Lee Tatum Smith McCray.

John served in the United States Army. He worked as a communication specialist for the Army for 20 years. John is also a Combat Vietnam War Veteran. He dedicated over 40 years to being a referee officiating various sports including football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, and boxing. He had a big passion and made many great friends working with everyone, from children to adults, officiating various sports.

On March 30, 1973, John married Linda Louise Brown Tatum in Augusta, GA. They have been married for 49 years.

John took interest to many of the enjoyable things in life. He enjoyed all genres of music and was an avid fan of cooking. John created tastes of art with BBQ, Grilling, and Southern Style dishes that everyone would devour. Most importantly, John knew how to create a strong relationships with his friends and his family. He loved going on vacation to see family and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Memories of John Henry Tatum will be cherished by his wife, Linda Louise (Brown) Tatum of Junction City, KS; his children, John Richard Henry Tatum of Junction City, KS, Vanessa Michelle Lee (Tatum) Herron (Husband, Shelton Herron) of Southaven, MS, and Tyrone Anthony Lee Tatum (Wife, Robyn O'Connell- Tatum) of Manhattan, KS; his grandchildren, Cherelle Tatum, Aliyah (Herron) Hughey (Husband, Corey Hughey), Brianna Herron, Darius O’Connell Tatum, and Tyler Tatum; his great-grandchildren Aria Hughey, Asahd Hudson, and Silas Hughey; his siblings, Annie Clincy, Fannie Smith, Mattie Louise Smith, Alice Smith, Linda Joyce Smith, Johnnie Pearl Payton, and Robert James Smith; sister-in-law, Marcella Brown; brother-in-law, Richard Brown; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins that love and will miss him dearly.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Lane and Mattie Lee Tatum Smith McCray; brother, James Curtis Tatum; sister, Frances Ann Gremmel; father-in-law, John Brown; mother-in-law, LaVonne (Miller-Snow) Brown; and sister-in- law, Kathleen Brown.