John William Bookout,III

John William Bookout, III was born on October 6, 1944, to John and Hulene Bookout in Hartley, Texas. He was raised in the house his father’s family had occupied since 1925, the same house in which he took his last breath. He attended Hartley Schools and Texas Tech University where he met Ann Damron, whom he married on July 27, 1968. He came back home to farm the land his father and grandfather had farmed. He had an encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1970 that changed the path of his life. He and Ann raised five children while he farmed by day and studied scripture at night. He offered a temporary home to so many people over the years it would be impossible to name all who were blessed by his generosity and wisdom. John Will became the “interim” pastor of Hartley Christian Fellowship in 1999, where he served for nine years. He served as part of a traveling ministry team called Dynamics of Freedom, that traveled throughout the southeastern US, teaching people how to find freedom in Christ. He visited pastor friends in South Africa and the Dominican Republic, encouraging and teaching. He and Ann graduated from Charis Bible College in 2013 and returned to their home in Hartley where they continued to minister to every person who came through their doors. John Will taught Sunday School as recently as this past spring.

John Will was a poet, a singer, he played the guitar, he sculpted, tooled leather, worked with wood, took amazing photographs, and wrote short stories. He was a pastor, preacher, teacher, friend. He was gentle, yet strong. He was compassionate and brave. He exuded the love of Jesus. He was a bird watcher and an avid reader, especially of western classics. He was a cowboy, a farmer, a Texan. He loved John Wayne movies and watched Secondhand Lions every year. He collected Native American art, old west sheriff badges, toy cowboys, stirrups, old tools, arrowheads, guns, and Zane Gray books.

John Will loved his family. He was still crazy about his wife, Ann, after 57 years. He loved hosting their annual “GranCamp” when many of their 12 grandchildren would spend a week on the farm, learning about their Bookout history and hearing stories of the old west. Despite the distance, he provided wise counsel to his children throughout each of their lives. He was a pillar of the community. Besides serving as a pastor, he also served on the Hartley School Board for many years and always took an active interest in making improvements that benefited the area. In addition to farming, he opened a bird hunting reserve and an antique store. His legacy will live on in many ways.

John Will was preceded in death by his parents, John Bookout in 1979 and Hulene Bookout in 1980; and by his grandmother, Myrtle Gotcher, in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Ann Damron Bookout; his children Jessica Dunaway (Darin), Caroline Godbey (Jonathan), Rebecca Jackson (Richard), Ben Bookout, and Debbie Avinger (Drew); by his grandchildren Drew Dunaway (Abbie), Tanner Dunaway (Sarah), Emily Dunaway, Gabriella Bookout, Abigail Dunaway, Will Jackson, Julianna Jackson, George Avinger, Anna Godbey, Savannah Bookout, Robert Jackson, and Marcus Avinger; by his great-granddaughters, Rowan Dunaway and Winnie Dunaway; by his sister, Jeanne Marosis, his niece Nicole Marosis, and his nephew John “Chip” Marosis (Kim); and by so many who looked to him as their spiritual father including Curtis Brinkley, Barbara Powell, Lexi Hauser, and Gracie Hauser.

A celebration of John Will’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Hartley Christian Fellowship with graveside services to follow at the Hartley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hartley Volunteer Fire Department.

hartleyvfd@gmail.com

PO Box 32

Hartley, TX 79044