John "Tuck" Wilkes, 64, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday, December 20, 2013, at his residence in Noxapater, Mississippi. Visitation will be at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi, on Sunday, December 22, 2013, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2013, Liberty Baptist Church with Rev. Doug Wise officiating. Interment will follow in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery.
Tuck was born June 2, 1949, to Birdie Shaw Wilkes and Jackson Dee Wilkes. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church and he retired as a District Conservationist with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Tuck was a very devoted Mississippi State Bulldog fan and was a charter member of the Noxapater Fire Department, where he served as Assistant Fire Chief for 39 years.
Tuck is survived by his wife of 44 years, Beverly Coward Wilkes; his daughter, Jodie Duran and husband, Ralph; and two sons, Chet Wilkes and wife, Amy, all of Noxapater; and Justin Wilkes and wife, Holly, of Louisville. He has six grandchildren: Ty Duran, Morgan Duran, Madelyn Wilkes, Nona Wilkes, Jodie Wilkes and Elijah Wilkes. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Serving as pallbearers are John Albert Young, Ray Sims, D. J. Reed, Ricky Bane, Ken Mills and Johnny Snow. Memorials may be given to Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Betty Byrd, 180 Stanley Road, Noxapater, MS 39346 or to the Pilot International Foundation, 102 Preston Court, Macon, GA 31210-5768.
Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
