Obituary: John Wayne Carlton

John Wayne Carlton, 84, of Tavares, Florida, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, passed away Friday, the 27th of June, 2022, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He was born in Ridgley, Tennessee, on Jan 1, 1938, and his mother aptly named him John Wayne because of her admiration of the “Duke.” 

He moved to Florida at the tender age of 17 and promptly met a vibrate red-headed beauty he saw walk by and declared, “She will be my Wife.” He was married to Mellaree Gibson Carlton on June 8, 1958, and from then on they built a solid life together and were blessed with a son and daughter, which was his dream.

John, speaking of Rick and Sandy, said, “If I’d known how good they would have turned out, I would have had more.” 

John Wayne Carlton was an accomplished carpenter and construction superintendent and has many buildings that can be credited with his exceptional knowledge of the industry, two of note being a tree house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Nashville, Tennessee, for his grandsons. 

John was a man of few words, but his words were chosen from a deep understanding of the Bible and his unwavering conviction to do the right thing. He was a talented artist that could illustrate any given event or memory that came to mind.  

John Wayne Carlton was not a Great Man, he was a good man, but he left people who were touched by his kindness, his wisdom and his love of Jesus. He was however a great husband and father. John Wayne Carlton was blessed by God as a gifted evangelist and could preach the stories of the Bible better than anyone we knew. People were mesmerized by his telling of the stories of the Bible.

John and Mellaree’s story is truly a “God Blessed Love Story for the Ages.” Mellaree prayed for a partner in life she could always count on, and in walks John Wayne and her prayers are answered. Sixty-five years later he has gone on to be with Jesus.

He is survived by Rick Wayne Carlton (son); Sandy Cargil (daughter); Michael Cargil, Nicole Gant, Christi Cargil, Sam Carlton Waitt, Mary Cargil, Catherine Cargil and John Wesley Carlton (grandchildren); Marvin Carlton (brother); and five great-grandchildren.  

Funeral arrangements were held at 10 a.m. June 4 at Glad Tidings East Campus, 8550 Clarcona-Ocoee Road, Orlando, Florida 32818.