John Frederic Hathaway Sr

A graveside service for John Frederic Hathaway Sr., 84, of Cleburne, will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 26, 2025, in the Rosehill Cemetery located at 405 Watters St., Cleburne, Texas 76033. 

John Frederic Hathaway Sr., peacefully passed away into the arms of his Lord Jesus on Friday, December 19, 2025, in the presence of his son. Born on July 10, 1941, in Ardmore, Oklahoma to Pauline Bruno and Shelton Hathaway; John, his older sister, Dana Mathey, and their mother Pauline moved to different places around the U.S. before settling in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth. He was a 2nd baseman and boxer. After high school he enlisted in the U.S Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Combat Engineer.

He had two children, John Hathaway Jr. of Cleburne and Joseph Hathaway of Fort Worth. He worked as a salesman for Sears Roebuck in Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. His well-known catch phrase: “Every Day is a Holiday” is familiar to anyone that ever met him.

John married the love of his life, Lynda Kay Allen, on September 17, 1990. They lived on a ranch in Sand Flat, Texas where they grew flowers and vegetables and watched wild birds. John once fell out of a tree he was trimming and fractured both arms. He had been alone on the ranch and ended up driving a stick-shift Honda to the hospital by himself.

The couple loved to travel, visiting Europe, Mexico, South America and destinations around the United States.

John was preceded in death by his adoring wife, Lynda Kay Hathaway, his father, Shelton Hathaway, his mother, Pauline Bruno, his sister, Dana Mathey, and his grandson, Joshua Hathaway.

John is survived by his son, John Frederic Hathaway Jr. and his children, granddaughter Elizabeth Hathaway, granddaughter Emily Hathaway and grandson John G. Hathaway, by his son, Joseph Michael Hathaway, by his son, Frank Morphis and his wife Connie Morphis, and granddaughter Abigail Morphis, and by his daughter Denyse Morphis Medlenka, her husband Chris Medlenka and their three children, granddaughter Sophia Medlenka, granddaughter Avery Medlenka, and grandson Jacob Medlenka.

John and Lynda were both challenged by dementia in their later years but maintained a loving relationship to the end. The two could be described as inseparable. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of Santa Fe Trails Assisted Living and Memory Care and the dedicated team at AlevCare Hospice for their exceptional care. Memorials in John’s name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.