John H. Dawson Jr.

John H. Dawson, Jr., 70, of Camden, Ark. died early Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He was born February 3, 1943 to John H. Dawson Sr. and Nelle Jane Allen Dawson. He was a veteran of the US Army, having qualified to serve on the rifle team winning numerous medals for his shooting abilities. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Camden and an integral part of the Wesley and Al Rose Sunday School Classes. He was the head usher for many years at First United Methodist Church. He was the owner of Arkansas Pulpwood Company, Inc., his timber and land company. Johnny was preceded in death by both his parents within the last 15 months and his granddaughter, Sydney Jane Watson, in 2004. He is survived by his daughters, Jane Marie Reeves (Cris), and Martha Dawson, both of Camden, Gina Newman (Chad) of Lorange, La.; his son, John H. Dawson III (Cathy) of Camden; grandchildren, Wilder Blockburger of Rogers, Ark.; Allie Wofford of Greenwood, Ark., John H. Dawson, IV, Anna Dawson, and A.J. Watson, all of Camden; his sister, Linda Ferstl of Little Rock, Ark.; and his brother, Allen Dawson of Camden; and his nephews, J.T. Ferstl and Tommy Ferstl of Little Rock, Ark. Johnny spent his life doing for others, a passion instilled in him by his parents. Born of very humble roots, Johnny was able to provide for so many people through his successful business achievements. His lifelong passion was making an impact in the lives of the young men he coached in baseball for almost 50 years mostly through the Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County. Johnny finished his coaching tenure this past summer of 2012 winning two state championships, the first of any age group for Camden, ever, and finally coached in a World Series. He truly loved his boys, providing them with uniforms, transportation, food, and building great character in them for the challenges that life would present ahead. Johnny, also, was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish. He was privileged to know many people across the county and hunted almost every type of wild game found in North America, having hunted in Canada, Mexico and 20 states in America. He loved the Razorbacks and traveled to see them play every Fall, rarely missing even the farthest away games. He was known to never leave a game early, no matter what the score and would most times be back in time for Sunday School and church the next morning. He even stayed for the entire thrashing USC gave us in the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calilf. in 2005, 70-17! Funeral services for Johnny will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013 at First United Methodist Church in Camden with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Proctor Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 223 Jefferson Street, Camden, Ark. 71701 or to The Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County, P.O. Box 2094, Camden, Ark. 71711. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com.