The world lost one of the greatest story-tellers when John Wayne Sherman went home to a heavenly reunion on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, after a courageous battle with cancer. He had much time in his final days to spend with family and friends in his special mountain home on Mossy Ridge. John never lost his positive outlook on life.

It would be impossible to say how many lives he touched in his own special way, and out of those and many other life experiences came a host of stories that he would share with a style and flare that could make you laugh and teach you about life. He was a devoted family man, a master mason and builder, a skilled outdoorsman, and a patriot. John never met a stranger because of his magnetic personality. He was drawn to people and they to him, and felt wealthy in the number of friends he made during his lifetime. Whether one was a king or a beggar, they were soon just friends to John.

John's desire at the end of his life was to be a fond memory. His personality and spirit were larger than life, leaving those that knew him with enriched hearts. When people think of John, many will remember his quick wit and ability to weave a story. He will also be remembered for his giving heart, his strong work ethic, and ability to repair or build anything. For his daughter, John will always be remembered as her hero in Wrangler jeans. For his son, he will always be his mentor in good times and bad.

John was born in Kessel, on Jan. 5, 1946, the son of the late Marvin and Beulah (Rexrode) Sherman. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Shirley (Weese) Sherman. He is also survived by a daughter, Amanda Gail Sherman and husband, Mark Mayle, of Morgantown; a son, Cullen Bowen Sherman of Maysville; a sister, Bonnie Lou Smith and husband, Kenneth, of Clearbrook, Va. In addition, John is survived by 11 nephews and five nieces. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Marvin "June" Sherman and Charles Bowen Sherman; as well as a sister, Eleanor Joy Shirk.

John was a 1963 graduate of Moorefield High School where he excelled in everything but academics. He had wanderlust and soon after high school left to serve in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1969 aboard the aircraft carriers USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and the USS John F. Kennedy. His time in the Navy not only allowed him to fight for his country, but to see and experience the world. There is no place like home, however, and after his service days he could not wait to return to Frosty Hollow. Proving that it's never too late and that he could excel at academics, he later went on to earn his Regents Bachelor of Arts from Shepherd College in 1999.

John was an independent masonry contractor and a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft-workers, Local Union 15 of Fairmont. In 1980, he became the masonry instructor at South Branch Vocational Center in Petersburg. John taught masonry at the vocational center for 26 years before retiring. He also built so much that you see every day in this area including the Grant County Public Library. (He may or may not have put his own memorabilia in the library's time capsule prior to finishing the enclosure.) John was not a boastful man, but he took great pride in building the brick masonic emblem on the Petersburg Masonic Lodge. John also worked in building the Mylan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, and often told the story that he could have been the first person to catch a pass on the new Mountaineer field, but he dropped the football.

John was a member of the Petersburg Lodge 145 A.F. and A.M., Order of Eastern Star 146, 32 Degree Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite and Potomac Highland Osiris Shriners of Petersburg. A Vietnam War veteran, John had a lifetime membership of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As a strong testimony to his love of country and firm belief in the Constitution, he was a member of the National Rifle Association.

John will be dearly missed by many, but especially by his loving family.

Family will receive friends on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Basagic Funeral Home in Petersburg. Memorial services will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Basagic Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, with Douglas Rexrode officiating. Military Honors from the Potomac Highlands VFW Post 6454 will follow.

Per Mr. Sherman's request, his body will be cremated.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140. Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com or on Facebook at Basagic Funeral Home.