John Wesley McWhorter's Obituary
John Wesley “Wes” McWhorter, age 50 of Longview, completed his 21 month battle with Glioblastoma, brain cancer, on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. A celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church Longview sanctuary on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 11am. Services will be officiated by Monty Sanders and David English, both lifelong friends. Visitation will be held in Rader Funeral Home chapel on Friday, March 17th from 5 to 7 pm.
Wes was born on July 15, 1966 in Panama City, FL to Johnny Mack McWhorter and Lynda Barrett McWhorter. He graduated from Longview High School in 1984 and one of his greatest pride and honors was saying that he is a Lobo. He played both football and baseball all four years, receiving numerous honors in both sports. Following graduation he walked on as a kicker at TCU. After 1 ½ years as a Horned Frog he transferred to SFA as a baseball pitcher attending SFA from 1986 through 1989. He then moved to Dallas and started working at Chelsea Corner as a bartender and waiter. At the urging of his dad he returned to SFA in 1991 to complete his degree earning a Bachelors in Kinesiology in December 1993. Upon graduation he returned to Dallas where he later bought into his beloved Chelsea Corner. After having to close Chelsea he gained even more of his valuable life experiences as an assistant golf pro, catering manager, restaurant manager among many other things. Ultimately he relocated back to Longview where he had the opportunity to pursue his true life calling, coaching, teaching and caring for young people at Leverett's Chapel ISD in the fall of 2006. He coached both six man football, baseball and numerous other sports where he made a lifelong impact on so many students’ lives. His life changed in May 2015 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He continued on at LC while undergoing treatment until he was forced to retire due to his illness in August 2016.
During the course of his treatments Wes underwent surgeries, treatments, clinical trials and therapies in an effort to beat the horrible disease he was forced to live with. He fought it until the very end, maintaining a positive, hopeful outlook with his infectious optimism and smile. He was always a favorite of the many doctors, nurses, therapists and caregivers he encountered in Longview, Houston, Austin and Tyler. He always hoped that his trial treatments would help him and individuals in the future faced with this disease. Even in losing his fight, he was selfless in his desire to help others by donating his earthly body to the Texas Tech School of Medicine.
Whether you knew Wes as a classmate, teammate, friend, neighbor, golf buddy, bartender, waiter, coworker, teacher, mentor or coach he had the ability to relate to you and treat you as only a true friend could. The impact he had and will continue to have on the lives of his students and players is immeasurable as evidenced by the outpouring of love for him both in life and in death.
For those privileged enough to call him brother, cousin, uncle or fiancé’ he leaves a legacy and a void that will never be filled in their hearts. He was one of a kind.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his fiancé and soul mate, Mary Moseley Taylor and her children Jacob and Josh. Brother David McWhorter and his wife Susan. His sister and her husband Lori McWhorter Wright and Andy Wright. Nephew William McWhorter and nieces Rylee and Baylee Yates. He is also survived by numerous cousins.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all of the many medical personnel that helped care for Wes.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the John Wesley McWhorter Memorial Fund address 225 Kayla Ln, Longview, TX 75602. This fund will be used to benefit and influence the lives of both current and future students of Leverett’s Chapel.
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