Johnny Sturdivant, of Ira, Texas passed away on Tuesday, February 7, at the age of 35. Johnny was born in Brady, Texas on September 27, 1976 to Lonnie Sturdivant and Rebecca Blackwell Sturdivant. He grew up in Katemcy and went to school in Mason. He was a very good artist and once thought of becoming a commercial artist. He was also a very good guitar player. He also enjoyed riding, rebuilding and working on motorcycles.

Johnny was a certified heavy rigger and iron worker. He worked for numerous construction companies and was a member of the Operators Union #178. He traveled to many jobs in several states and was always making friends wherever he went. He was a jokester with a big heart and he would give you the shirt off of his back.

He was also a hard-headed man, stubborn and proud. He was proud of his heritage, his background and his family. He was also very proud of his brother Seth who he loved like a son and helped whenever he could. He loved his father and was proud of him. He said his father was the best man he ever knew and also the hardest working. Johnny and his cousin Jesse also had a strong bond and were like brothers. He also had a deep respect for Jesse's father who he also saw as being a great man.

Johnny always stood up for what he thought was right and was ready to defend it. There was no back-down in Johnny. He was hard to get to know, but steadfast and true once you got to know him. Johnny loved to hunt and fish and loved animals. He enjoyed all kinds of music from bluegrass and old country to hard rock, classical and gospel. And, he could play it all on guitar! Johnny was learning to dance and loved being around old friends and family. He was a simple man and enjoyed the simple things in life.

Those left behind to remember him include his father Lonnie Sturdivant of Mary Neal, his mother Rebecca Martin of Hamilton, a brother Seth Sturdivant and wife Stephanie of Mary Neal, grandmother Iva Mae Swinford of Lubbock, his fiancé Debra Martin and her daughter, who he thought of as his own, Heather Martin of Ira, Texas, his aunts Shirley Ann Wilkins of Lubbock, Alice Cotton of Smithville, Arkansas, Jadene Sellman, Rhonda Brown, and Karla McBee, an uncle, Tony Blackwell, and cousins Daniel Wilkins and his wife Susan, Steven Wilkins, LaVaughn Barrett, Debra Cherry, Jesse Taylor and wife Patsy, Brady and Brittany Wilkins, Billy and Kip Sellman, and Karl Blackwell. Johnny was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Archie and Winnie Keith, John F. and Anebelle Blackwell, and Alexander and Minnie Williams, grandparents J.D. and Grace Blackwell and Joseph Swinford, and his uncle "Buck".

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 12, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gaylon Morris officiating. Interment will follow in the Cavness Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Jesse Taylor, Daniel Wilkins, Steven Wilkins, Seth Sturdivant, Lonnie Sturdivant, and T.J. Belcher. Honorary pallbearers will be Stewart Whitman, Mike Adams, Jeff Barclay, Cody Shahan, John Rockholt, and Ray Morris. Visitation with the family will be Saturday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.