John Bruce Scudder SR

August 14, 1934 - December 29, 2018

John Bruce Scudder SR of Rolla, Missouri, formerly of St. James, passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018 in Rolla at the age of 84. John was born in Oneonta, New York on August 14, 1934 to the late Julian and Benrice (Brown) Scudder. After graduating high school John attended a technical trade school where he learned the automobile die trade, he than went to work for Ford Motor Company as a Die Specialist; he worked at many trades over the years, and was able to fix just about anything, it may not have always been by the book fixes, but usually always worked when he was finished. John married the love of his life, Miss Shirley Hicks on September 18, 1954, this union was blessed with five children; John had a strong faith in God, and would go on to join the Ministry; he went to work for the Underground Evangelism, this company built secret compartments to smuggle Bibles behind the Iron Curtin. John worked for the Operating Engineers on a road construction crew that built I-65 through Indiana. He also started his own company, J.B. Scudder Construction, that built houses, businesses, and did home improvements. But his was his work in the Ministry that John felt was his true passion and calling, he would go on to Pastor several area churches over the course of his lifetime, including Winkler Baptist Church, Ft. Wyman Baptist, and he was the Interim Pastor at Salem Ave Baptist Church. He was a great speaker, he loved people, laughing, and singing. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to all, he will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him. John Bruce Scudder SR is survived by his wife Shirley; children, John Bruce Scudder JR and wife Debra, of Fort Pierce, FL, Glen Scudder and wife Lee, of Olathe, KS, and Monica Cain and husband Sean, of Nicholasville, KY; brother, David Scudder and wife Gini, of Rolla, MO; sister, Deborah Martin-Bebee, of Peru, IN; grandchildren, Jacob Scudder, Elizabeth Goddard, Brandon Scudder, Jacque Roark, Brittany Krueger, Garrett Scudder, and Abigail Cain; great-grandchildren, Gant Scudder, Dehring Scudder, Sam Goddard, Lorraine Goddard, Weston Roark, Dakota Saunders, Allison Krueger, and Mya Krueger; a host of nieces nephews, extended family and friends. In addition to his parents Julian and Benrice, John was preceded in death by his daughter, Carol Jean Scudder, and son, James Earl Scudder. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:00AM at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Pastor John Bruce Scudder JR officiating. Internment will follow at the St. James Cemetery with Garrett Scudder, Justin Goddard, Farron Roark, Nick Krueger, Rick Birkner, and Sean Cain serving as pallbearers. Visitation for family and friends will be at the Chapel on Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 5-7PM. Memorials are appreciated and suggested to the Hospice of Phelps County, cards are available at all James & Gahr locations.