Funeral services for John Colvin Saunders of Farmerville, Louisiana will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at First Baptist Church on Taylor Street in Marion, Louisiana with Bro. Bubba Hoggatt officiating. Interment at Roark-Allen Cemetery on Tiger Bend Road will directly follow the service under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home Farmerville.

His faith became sight early Sunday morning on June 18, 2023, at the age of 82. He was born on February 18, 1941, in Spearsville, Louisiana, the fourth of six children born to James Elias Saunders and Lois Hollis Heard.

John worked for Halley Timber Company as a timber buyer for more than 40 years. He loved the outdoors. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren treasure numerous memories of fishing, boating, hunting, and gardening with him. He also worked as a commercial fisherman and as a fisher-of-men, working in prison ministry for more than 30 years, serving as a Gideon, pastoring small, local churches for 13 years, and most recently ministering at LaArk Recovery Addiction Treatment Center.

John is preceded in death by his father and mother; brother, J. T. Saunders; and sister, Frances Cummings.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Sue Saunders; children, Donovan Saunders (Donna), Melanie Chapman (Arden), and Suzonne Jolly (Clyde); grandchildren, Jonathan JollyStone (Libby), Melissa Keaster (Brandon), Natalie Wise (Chad), Diana Boggs (Chris), Morgan Tucker (Nathan), Hannah Morrison (Rich), and Kristy Gandy (Matt); 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sue Nugent, Peggy Allbritton (Harold), and Ruth DeVoll (Eddie); and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Brandon Dixon, Casey Towns, Glen Sams, Richard Towns, Andy Jones, Jerry Baker, Michael Thomas, and Terry Guiles.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Farmerville, Louisiana.

Donations may be given to Samaritan’s Purse.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of John C. Saunders, please visit our Tribute Store.