John Wyley Stegall Jr. was born on July 30, 1935 in the rural community of Thornwell, Jefferson Davis Parish, La. His parents were John Wyley Stegall Sr., a native of Easley, S.C., and Gloria Mae Miller of Thornwell. John went to be with his Savior on Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Many, Sabine Parish, La. A graduate of Sulphur High School in 1954, John entered the Southwestern Louisiana Institute for Liberal and Technical Learning (SLI), now University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he studied engineering. In early 1957, John enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Company C of the 806th Engineering Battalion. John trained as a heavy equipment diesel engine mechanic and repairman. After serving in the south Pacific at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands during Operation Hardtack, John returned to the United States and was honorably discharged in 1960. After returning home to Sulphur, John worked for a local company repairing tractors. In 1961, John moved his family to Lake Charles when he was hired by the Hercules (later Lyondell) chemical and plastics manufacturing plant, where he worked as an equipment operator and repairman until his retirement in 1997.
John was preceded in death by his parents, along with his loving wife of 44 years, Carolyn Ruth Hebert Stegall; and son, Dwyane Rider of Bell City. Also preceded in death were John’s sister, Carolyn Beeson of Sulphur; and John’s first wife, Elaine McGee Stegall. John is survived by three brothers, Truman Stegall (Judy) of Sulphur, Robert “Bobby” Stegall of Dallas, and Kenneth Stegall (Jackie) of Sulphur; and two sisters, Patricia Ann “Patsy” Bergeron (Johnny) of Baton Rouge, and Shirley Duhon, of Wichita Falls, Texas; along with numerous nephews and nieces. John is also survived by his children, Lisa Adcock (David) of Bryan, Texas, Tami Triska (Chris) of El Campo, Texas, John W. Stegall III (Rhonda) of Kinder, La., Kimberly Thompson (Mike) of Lake Charles, La., Sandra Miller (Ryan) of College Station, Texas, and daughter, Nicole Stegall of Bryan, Texas. John’s grandchildren include, Thomas J. Weldon, Riley R. Gibson, III, Alyssa Besly (Aaron), Mary Helena Triska, Victoria “Tori” Triska, Patrick Stegall, Kristen Landry (Garrett), Adam Stegall, Madisen Chauvin, Kelsey Fraim (Justin), Adelaide “Addy” Miller, Jack Miller, Collin Rider, and Hannah Rider; along with two great-grandchildren, David S. Besly and Stella Kate Fraim.
A small family-only memorial service will be held at a future date yet to be determined.