John Berry Briggs

John Berry Briggs, 88 passed away Sunday February 2, 2014 due to heart/kidney failure. Funeral: 3 p.m. Friday at Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes. Visitation: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of Chimes prior to the service. Burial: Laurel Land Memorial Park. "JB" an avid Razorback fan, was born Oct. 8, 1925 in Hot Springs to John & Allie Dement Briggs. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in WW II and sailed from Norfolk, Va. via the Panama Canal across the Pacific to Japan. On release from the Navy he worked at Sicks' Brewery in Seattle and then building the Alaska Railroad. JB married Mary Elizabeth Buchanan on Mar. 1, 1948 in Hot Springs and they had two daughters, Linda and Cindy. They moved to Texas in 1952 and JB worked for Southwestern Bell for 35 years. When Arkansas left the Southwest Conference JB & Mary moved to Prairie Grove, Ark. to be near the Razorback sports teams. They just recently moved to Granbury to be near their family. JB was predeceased by his parents and sister, Beryl and husband Harry Krause. JB deeply loved Mary and his family and was in turn deeply loved & respected by family & friends. Survivors: Mary, loving wife of 66 years, daughters Linda (Jack) MacArthur and Cindy (Brad) May both of Granbury, brother, James (Frances) Briggs of Hot Springs and brother-in-law, Tom (Laurie) Buchanan of Dickson, Tennessee, grandchildren, Sheri (Jim) Robkin, Shelli Medio, Bryan (Jennifer) May and Buck (Amy) May, six great-grandchildren & numerous nieces and nephews.