John Fuston (Turkey)
John Fuston, age 77, of Fort Worth, peacefully took his last breath on earth to join our Father in heaven on February 10, 2022, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He served as the State Executive Director for the Texas Farm Service Agency back in 2001.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at the Church of Christ in Turkey, Texas. Interment will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. The family will host a gathering and visitation before the service from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM at the Church of Christ in Turkey. Arrangements are under the personal care of Moore-Rose Funeral Home.
John was born at home in Turkey, Texas to Alice and John A. Fuston on June 29, 1944. John was married to Joan Watson Fuston for 54 years. He lovingly fathered three daughters: Ronda Hefton married to Michael of Anna, Texas, Emily Betzen married to Cameron of Hereford, Texas, and Sherry Abendschan married to John of Fort Worth, Texas. His 8 grandchildren include Bryce Betzen ma rried to Kathleen, Claire Hefton Branson married to Will, Luke Betzen, Chet Hefton, Zoe Abendschan, Bliss Betzen, Ali Abendschan and Lily Abendschan, two great grandchildren Beau and Briggs Betzen.
John attended Turkey High School where he enjoyed showing animals, playing football, and working the Fuston family farm. He attended West Texas State University, graduating in 1966, and in 2007, he was named a “Graduate of Distinction” by the West Texas A&M University Agricultural Sciences Department. After graduating from college, John moved to Hereford, Texas, and taught and coached in junior high school for 4 years. There he met his wife Joanie Watson of Haskell, Texas, and raised his three daughters.
John spent his 37-year agricultural career working for the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, an organization dedicated to Texas farmers. After serving as County Executive Director for Hartley, Bailey, and Deaf Smith Counties, he was promoted to be a District Director for the Texas Panhandle. In 2001, George W. Bush appointed him to serve as FSA State Executive Director for the state of Texas in Bryan/College Station, where he and Joan relocated for 9 years. He received many awards from the USDA and from the Hereford community. John was named the “2002 State Executive Director of the Year” and was named the “2008 Texas Wheat Man of the Year.” Texas Agriculture and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service paid him tribute for his 38 years of leadership and partnership. John retired in 2009, moving to Fort Worth, Texas where he and Joan lived for 10 years.
Serving God throughout their lives, the Fuston family attended the Church of the Nazarene (Hereford). While living in Bryan, Joan and John attended the Bryan Church of the Nazarene, and in Fort Worth, Eagles View Church. An avid community member, John served on the Hereford ISD School Board for 9 years, serving as president for 7 of those years. He refereed high school football and basketball games for 20 years. His numerous hobbies involved driving around checking on cattle, crops, and farmland, hunting birds, gardening and feeding neighbors, and friends his fresh veggies (especially tomatoes) and beef, fishing, golfing with friends, going to Boswell Pioneer football games, working out at the YMCA and engaging with people. John never knew a stranger. His kindness made everyone feel they were the most important person in his orbit. He never ended a conversation without telling those he loved how much he loved them
He was preceded in death by his father, John Fuston, mother, Alice Fuston, sisters, Loetta Ferguson and Ruth Lyles, and brothers, James and Denny Fuston.
Memorials in Mr. Fuston’s name may be made to Turkey Church of Christ, 501 Bell Ave, Turkey, TX, 79261 or to the Wanda Watson Memorial Prayer Garden, care of Bryan Church of the Nazarene, 2122 E. William J. Bryan Pkwy, Bryan, TX, 77802.
