JOHN WILFORD BRISCOE
JOHN WILFORD BRISCOE
John Wilford Briscoe of New London, Missouri passed from this life peacefully on January 1, 2024, at his home. He was eighty-one years old.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, January 8, 2024, at the James O’Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal, MO. Fr. Mike Quinn will officiate.
Burial will follow at Barkley Cemetery in New London, MO.
Friends and Family are invited to John’s Life Celebration at a visitation that will be from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Sunday, January 7, 2024, at the funeral home.
He is survived by his three sons: John W. Briscoe II (Kristen) of Columbia, Missouri, Andrew William Briscoe of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Philip Porter Briscoe (Jill) of Hannibal, Missouri; and his three grandchildren, Jack Franklin Briscoe, Grace Marie Briscoe, and Allison Maureen Briscoe.
He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty years Joy Porter Briscoe and his parents John Charles (Jack) Briscoe and Jean Stuart Briscoe and two infant brothers.
John was born on January 25, 1942, in Hannibal, Missouri. He attended the one-room Flint Hill School in Ralls County before going to elementary school in New London. He attended junior high at Central School in Hannibal before moving on to Hannibal High School, missing one semester in 1957 to serve as a page in the United States Senate under then Senator Stuart Symington. He graduated from Hannibal High School in 1959. From there he attended Westminster College and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1963. This was followed by a summer-long trip to Europe with his lifelong friends Robert M. Clayton II and Mike Well. He then began law school at the University of Missouri where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1966. From several of his law school classmates, he attained the rank of chaplain for those blessed enough to label themselves “Goats.”
After law school graduation he served a short time as council to the Public Service Commission in Jefferson City before being appointed to fill a vacancy as prosecuting attorney of Knox County, Missouri in 1968 by then Governor Warren Hearnes. While living in Edina, Missouri during this time he met Joy Porter, a law secretary working in Shelbina, Missouri at the firm of Bollow, Crist & Oswald. They were married on June 18, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Returning to his beloved Ralls County in 1971 John opened his own law office in New London. He served as prosecuting attorney of Ralls County from 1972- 1981 and again from 1991-2006. He served a term as president of the 10th Judicial Circuit of the Missouri Bar and in 1979 served as president of the Missouri Prosecuting Attorneys Association. While a zealous advocate for his clients, he never let that diminish his affinity and respect for his fellow attorneys. He loved the law and believed deeply in its honor and nobility. He practiced law for over fifty years with integrity, honesty and a very strong work ethic. That work ethic saw him at his office in New London most mornings at 5:00 a.m., including the day he died. He was fortunate to have had as partners in his career: the late David Henderson, Hon. Glenn Norton, Hon. David Mobley, Hon. James R. Reinhard, Rodney Rodenbaugh and Joe Brannon.
John served his community throughout his career in many ways. He served on the board of Barkley Cemetery in New London for over forty years with a term as president. He attended Trinity Episcopal Church in Hannibal where he served multiple terms on the vestry and served as a trustee. He was appointed to the Board of Governors of Truman State University in 1997 by Governor Mel Carnahan and served a term as president in 2002 before his term expired in 2005. He served on the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar Association from 1990-2002, serving as president from 2000- 2001. He was a fifty plus year member of Ralls Lodge #33 A.F. & A.M. of Missouri; a fifty plus year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a fifty plus year member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and a forty plus year member of the New London Lions Club. He served on the Ralls County Democrat Committee and most recently was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to the Missouri Highway Commission where he served from 2015-2022.
He was godfather to John Bayer, Robert M. Clayton III, Andrew Well, Julie Curtis and Andrew Curtis.
Away from work John loved baseball and could quote baseball statistics from decades past. It was playing little league baseball in 1954, that John received his beloved nickname, “Heavy” from his lifelong friend Mike Sohn. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals, attending multiple Worlds Series games, and witnessing multiple Hall-of-Famers play. He held Mizzou football season tickets for over forty years. In his younger years he enjoyed turkey and goose hunting and delighted in fishing even into his eighties. He and Joy enjoyed traveling to Europe and multiple trips with their beloved friends, John and Marsha Croll.
John was proud to be a lifelong Democrat; proud to live almost his entire life in Ralls County; proud to be the fifth generation on his family’s farm and did all he could to safeguard its future; and above all else was proud of his grandchildren. He treasured time and trips spent with family and friends. All who knew him will treasure the memory of his storytelling and his wonderful sense of humor.
Pallbearers will be Gene Evans, Eddie Joe Hamill, Mitch Stuart, Greg Kanz, David Houchins, Rodney Rodenbaugh, Ritchie Palmer, and Hon. Glenn Norton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jack F Briscoe, Grace M Briscoe, Allison M Briscoe, Jim Abright, Jennifer Gille Bacon, Lynn K. Ballew, Keith Birkes, Charles Booher, Sarah Burkemper, Donald Burton, Larry Burton, Jacque Butler, Hon. Robert M. Clayton II, Hon. Robert M. Clayton III, Dr. John G. and Marsha Croll, Dana Tippin Cutler, Gene Dryden, Hon. Colleen Dolan, Donna Evans, Tim Flowerree, Dudley Gillespy, Michael P. Gunn, Laurie Harris, Kyle Jameson, Jerry and Connie Ketsenburg, Lincoln J. Knauer, Steve Lewton, Neil Maune, Roger Marshall, Patrick McKenna, James J. O’Donnell, Scott Orr, Mike Pace, Chester Palmer, Eddie Palmer, Linda Peters, James K. Reinhard, Diane Rule, Hon. Rachel Bringer Shepherd, Roger and Rhonda Stout, James B. Secker, Dr. David C. Smith, Donna Stroud, Bill Smith, James E. Thompson, Lamar Utterback, Anne Vieira, Dr. Mike Well, Lindel Jackson, Mark S. Wasinger, Dennis Watson, Annabelle Wilt, Julie Curtis, Sandy Worthington, Tom Waters, Rodney Wells, Kimberly Evans Webber, Gaylord Winders and Hon. David L. Zerrer.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contributions may be made to Barkley Cemetery or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be shared and video tribute may be viewed at www. JamesODonnell FuneralHome.com.
