John Frank Bariola, Sr.

John Frank Bariola, Sr. passed away Friday, July 23, 2021 at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 26 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 2:00 pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial to follow at Itta Bena Cemetery.

John was born July 31, 1941 to Anthony and Albena Nobile Bariola in Washington County, MS. John graduated from Moorhead High School. He received an A.S. Degree from Sunflower Junior College; BS in Science; and Masters degree in Administration from Western Kentucky State College. John married Paula Stowers on August 28, 1962 during their senior year of college. John taught science and coached at Bowling Green High School for five years. He and Paula moved back to Itta Bena in 1967 to farm the family land. John retired from farming in 2020, after 53 years of successful farming efforts. From 1980 to 1984 and 1991 – 1997, John served on the Itta Bena City Board of Alderman. He was member of the Itta Bena- Morgan City Rotary Club.

John was a faithful member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

John in his younger years enjoyed duck hunting. He loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and dance recitals. John was a football player at Western Kentucky and Sunflower Junior College. He was recently voted into the Mississippi Delta Community College Hall of Fame, as well as the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored at banquet on April 27, 2021, honoring his college football and baseball accomplishments.

John was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be missed by his family and many friends. He loved spending time with his family. Family vacations meant the world to him, the most recent having been spent in Orange Beach, Alabama, from July 9 -14, 2021.

John was preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Albena Bariola, brothers, Tony and Pete Bariola, and sisters, Margaret Giles and Virginia Blackwell.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Paula Stowers Bariola of Greenwood, MS; daughter, Paige Bariola McKay ( Tim) of Greenwood, MS ; son, John Bariola Jr. (Kristy) of Itta Bena , MS ; four grandchildren, Ann McKay Bratton (David) ; Tyler McKay; John Bariola, III; and Parker Bariola; and two great grandchildren, Taylor and John Clayton Bratton.

Pallbearers are Barry Corley, David Bratton, Parker Bariola, Tyler McKay, John Bariola, III and Wesley Clay. Honorary pallbearers are Itta Bena-Morgan City Rotary Club members, George Saunders, Bo Prestige, David Grossman, Tom Grossman, and John Moore.

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