- Date Of Birth: September 21, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 23, 2017
- State: Florida
John Mac Renfro was born on September 21, 1936 to Robert Hubert Renfro and Carrie Davis Renfro in Erwin, TN. He lived on 236 N. Elm Street from birth until he joined the USMC in September, 1954.
John had two older brothers, Robert Stark Renfro and Charles Hubert Renfro. Both brothers have preceded him in death.
John was unique. He looked for challenges and never gave up.
It was during his short break between basic training and base assignment that he married his childhood sweetheart, Audree Hope McFarland.
After he was discharged from the USMC, he spent the next year working as a machinist’s apprentice at the Clinchfield Railroad in Erwin. It was during this time, he recognized he truly wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. He and Audree scooped up their two little boys, Richard Mark Renfro and Robert Michael Renfro and headed for Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (Tennessee Tech) in Cookeville, TN in 1958. During his four years at Tennessee Tech, on the GI Bill, and working as a surveyor during the summer months, Ronald Marshal Renfro was born.
In 1961, John graduated and immediately went to work for E.I. DuPont in Aiken, SC. as a Mechanical Engineer. Their fourth son, Russell Matthew Renfro was born. He was transferred to Parkersburg, WV in 1964.
An active outdoor enthusiast John taught his family, and any friend who cared to learn, how to water ski. Summer vacations were always camping and skiing, and every weekend possible was spent on the boat with family and friends. His boys had an amazing and active childhood.
John and Audree were divorced in November, 1980.
On January 1, 1982 John became remarried to Dorothy Epler Burnside of Parkersburg, WV. Dorothy brought into the marriage two beautiful children Douglas Epler Burnside age 9 and Hannah Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Burnside-McDonald, age 9 both whom John loved, adored, and raised as his own. And yes, taught to ski!
Throughout his time in Parkersburg John was deeply involved at St.
John remained with DuPont until his retirement in 1999 where his final assignment was as a Management and Maintenance Practices consultant to DuPont corporate traveling nationally.
But that’s not the end of the story. After Audree’s second husband passed away John and she reconnected through their children and began a new chapter in their lives. Though his struggles with Alzheimer’s deepened over the following years so did the love and affection that previously defined this amazing relationship. Audree provided the emotional caregiving to her first love in what can only be described in a storybook way.
John passed peacefully in his room at Autumn House, a wonderful and loving memory care facility in Viera, FL on Monday January 23, 2017.
We love you John Mack, Johnny Mack, John, Dad, Grand John.
