John Curtis Towery, 86, of Memphis, Tennessee (formerly of Greenville, Mississippi) passed away June 24, 2024. He was born July 20, 1937 in Sunflower, Mississippi to William Curtis and Myrtle Lee Towery.

John honorably served his country in the United States Army. He married and moved to Memphis with aspirations of becoming a firefighter. He was on the job beginning 1966 and was able to retire as Lieutenant of the Memphis Fire Department after 25 years of service. He enjoyed his retirement with his wife and his family, camping, fishing, hunting, and spur of the moment afternoon drives.  He loved country music and was a musician in his own right, playing in bands, playing in one band while in the Army. His love for music spread through his children and grandchildren. He loved flying and in 1968 received his pilot license to fly private planes.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by three sisters Marguerite Jeffcoat, Helen McGovern and Barbra Ann Strother; his son John Andrew Towery, his daughter Victoria Lynne Towery-Coker and his wife of sixty-one years, Edna Claudine Towery. He is survived by his daughter Sandra Leanne Wheat (Tim); seven grandchildren Kristina Bowien (Shane), Kelsey Sphar (Nate), John Lucas Wheat, Traci Domingo (Mike), Lindsey Sweet, Taylor Prescott and Lyndsey Towery; four great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons; and a daughter-in-law Melissa Prescott.  An intimate, graveside service will be at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Greenville, Mississippi, with family attending.

Memorials in honor of John's memory can be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; https://www.stjude.org/donate

Bartlett-Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Center is honored to serve the family of John Curtis Towery; bartlettheritage.com; (901) 372-5555.