John Hampton

John W. Hampton, age 55, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Freeman Hospital West following a long illness.        John was born September 26, 1953, at the family home in Dunklin County, Missouri, to Johnny Mack and Erma Mae (Mitchell) Hampton.  As a very young child, John was stricken with polio and he overcame many challenges and endured disabilities throughout his life.  Growing up in Illinois, he graduated from Hinckley-Big Rock High School in 1971.  John had worked in several factories, retiring from Smith & Richardson Manufacturing in Illinois.  He had lived in Lamar since 1997.        Survivors include his father and step-mother, Johnny Mack & Shelly Hampton, Dillon, South Carolina; his mother and step-father, Erma & Dean Snedeker, Big Rock, Illinois; two brothers, Ron Hampton, Taneyville, and Rick & wife Debby Hampton, Lamar; two sisters, Rebecca Hampton, Kissee Mills, and Sandra & husband Mike Minor, Cortland, Illinois; three nieces; four nephews; and a large extended family.        In accordance with John’s wishes, his body has been cremated and a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.