John Hamby, age 83, of Columbia, passed away peacefully at his home Dec. 29, 2023.
He was born Jan. 4, 1940, a son of Earl and Clara (Vermillion) Hamby in Fair Play.
He was a 1958 graduate from Fair Play High School in Fair Play, where he was also senior class president. He then attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling at Arkansas State University.
John worked teaching high school mathematics and was a high school counselor at Lebanon High School, Koskonong High School and most recently Belle High School in Belle.
John enjoyed deer hunting, fishing and watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He loved taking nature walks with his kids when they were young and spending time gardening. He also had a passion for educating the next generation.
John was preceded in death by parents, Earl and Clara Hamby.
John is survived by wife, Mary; daughters, Teresa (Jeff) Griffith and Patricia (Misha) Kovalenko; brother, John Michael (Rachel) Hamby; sisters, Beth Ferreira and Earleen Shalz; grandchildren, Sophia, Ella, Adrienne, Erica and Julian.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 East Ash Street, Columbia.
