Emil John Michon, Jr. ("John"), age 94, passed away suddenly on July 27, 2024, while visiting family in Hamilton, Virginia. John was born in 1930 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
In January of 1944, age fourteen, John and his mother, Edna Louise Zimmerman Michon (later Hewett), and his grandparents, Stephen and Mary Zimmerman, moved to Big Point, Mississippi. John attended Moss Point High School for a few years but graduated from Pascagoula High School after his family moved to Pascagoula.
John met his future bride-to-be, Ada Louise Michon, in 1944-1945, while visiting her family with his cousin, Frances Jones. Over the next few years, John and Louise became friends, and he eventually won her heart. After she graduated from high school, they married in Baker, Louisiana, on May 19, 1952. At that time, John was serving in the United States Army. He served in the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division in Heavy Weapons on the front lines including Heart Break Ridge and White Horse Hill in Korea, and as a prison guard at the Koji-do Prison POW Camp. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant before he completed his tour of duty and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. John returned to Moss Point, Mississippi in 1953, where he began his working career. John worked in various places over the years. On March 2, 1964, he started working for Standard Oil of Kentucky (which later became Chevron) at the new Pascagoula oil refinery, where he worked until he retired in 1986 as a Head Operator in Blending and Shipping.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Louise Zimmerman Hewett, step-father, James Harold Hewett, his beloved Louise, and his grandson, Benjamin Kosztur. John continued to live an active life, serving in his church, and keeping tabs on his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family and friends. He was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather. John made friends wherever he went and was loved by many.
John leaves behind his daughter, Karen Michon Kosztur (Gary), and his sons, John C. Michon (Carri), Keith A. Michon (Martina), ten living grandchildren, Michael R. Kosztur (Dana), Daniel Kosztur, Coventry Michon Brown (Nicholas), Brandon Michon (Kelly), Brittany Michon Bullock (Michael), Ryan Michon (Natalie), Tanner Michon, Tate Michon, Samantha Michon and Cameron Michon, and twelve great-grandchildren, Michael A. Kosztur, Mason, Weston, Brighton, and Lilia Brown, Charlotte, Winifred and Rosemary Bullock, Duke, Scarlett, Grant, and Dean Michon, as well as numerous other relatives and dear friends.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, August 5, 2024, with visitation prior to the service from 10:00am to 11:00am at Holder Wells Funeral Home, 4007 Main Street, Moss Point, MS 39563. A graveside service with military honors will conclude at the Griffin Cemetery in Moss Point, Mississippi. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael R. Kosztur, Michael A. Kosztur, Cameron Michon, Brandon Michon, Ryan Michon, Tanner Michon, Tate Michon, and Michael Bullock.
For those who would like to make an expression of sympathy through a memorial contribution instead of flowers, the family has designated the Glaucoma Research Foundation.