John Allen Wootten, III, 59, entered into eternal rest on Monday, October 14, 2024, at his home in Oxford, Mississippi. He was the beloved husband of April Christine (Wilkerson) Wootten and the loving father of John Allen (Emily), Connor Wayne, and Claire Elizabeth. He has one darling grandson, Rory Allen, whom he adored. He was the dear son of John Allen Wootten II; Wayne and Lois Apple, and the loving older brother of Chad Wootten (Heather). John had several nieces and nephews that he loved with his whole heart.
John was born in Macon, Mississippi and resided there until his move to Holly Springs, Mississippi where he graduated from Marshall Academy. He attended Delta State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business in just three and a half years while working full time throughout college.
After a successful career in the retail industry, he relocated several times throughout the mid-south and ultimately landed in O’Fallon, Missouri, with his beloved wife April where they raised their family. During this time, John changed careers, and his outgoing, never-met-a-stranger personality combined with his utmost integrity, brought him tremendous success in sales and consulting. By any account, he was one of the hardest working men, and his customers always had nothing but great things to say about him; a lot of them eventually becoming lifelong friends. He was a committed employee and colleague, and remains friends with counterparts from all of his positions over the years.
John loved life and his family more than anything! A dedicated father, nothing made him happier than spending time with his children, especially watching them participate in sports. He was an avid lover of the Ole Miss Rebels and the St. Louis Cardinals. On any hot summer day, you could find him with his family boating and enjoying the sunshine, with maybe even a cold beer or two! If he wasn’t on the lake, he was likely grilling some fabulous BBQ, especially his famous ribs, with his family and friends. Family vacations were always to the beach which was the happiest of places for him! As the kids grew up, travel with his wife became his favorite pastime.
John was loved deeply by many. He had a huge heart and welcoming spirit. He made an impact on everyone he knew, and he treated everyone he met like he had known them for years. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him.
“When I get where I’m going, there’ll be only happy tears…I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years…And I’ll leave my heart wide open…I will love and have no fear…
Yeah when I get where I’m going…Don’t cry for me down here.”
Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, or online at www.stjude.org.
