Okolona - John Q. Callahan, Sr., 85, died Sunday, March 2, 2014, at North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. He was born June 30, 1928, to Clyde A. and Doda Bell Callahan in Houston. He was a lifelong resident of Okolona and a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. On July 5, 1947, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Jean Gaskin and began a wonderful life together of 66 years. He was a great father and grandfather. He loved his two children and grandchildren. He attended school in Woodland and Egypt. He enlisted in the Air Force in November 1945 serving until December 1946. He came back and finished high school with his previous classmates at Egypt. In June 1950, he joined the MS National Guard and was called up in September 1950 for the Korean War and released from the war May 1952 where he continued to serve in the National Guard. In 1957 he was hired as the Unit Administrator for the Okolona National Guard until June 1986 when he retired. He stayed active in the Guard until 1988. After leaving the Guard, he worked as Secretary Treasure of East Chickasaw Water Association for seventeen years.

Services will be 2 PM Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Marion Tumberlinson officiating and Eddie Brassfield will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Callahan of Okolona; a daughter, Patsy Jones (Butch) of Fulton; a son, John Callahan, Jr. (Margaret) of Pontotoc; 4 grandchildren, Rachel Pickett of Pope, Brian T. Jones of Amory, Mary Margaret and April Callahan of Pontotoc; 3 great-grandchildren, Grayson and Cade Pickett and McKenzie McDonald; 3 sisters, Zette Terry of Houston, TX, Pat Carver of Columbus and Liz Cole of Brandon; a special nieces Denise Carver; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a step-mother Fannie Callahan; a brother Clyde Callahan, Jr.; a sister Faye Hunter and a grandson-in-law, John Mark Pickett.

Pallbearers will be Brian T. Jones, Bobby Clark, Howard Gaskin, Jerry Lentz, Jay Terry and Gib Wise. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joe Bowen, Ed Springer, Preston Sullivan, Eddie Brassfield, Earl Lewis, Jerry Hall and Buddy Hill.