John G Killebrew

John Graves Killebrew (age 98), passed into glory on February 15, 2026, after an extended illness. He was at home in Blairsville, Georgia, surrounded by family and friends. Born on Labor Day, September 5, 1927, at the Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, John grew up on the far South Side of Chicago, and attended Clissold Elementary School. He later attended three years at Morgan Park High School. John enjoyed life in Chicago. He loved music and played trumpet in four bands. He also took piano lessons for 8 years.

John’s father couldn’t stand idleness and if he didn’t find employment during summer, his dad would find it for him. He worked one summer at Strube Machine Shop, and then spent several summers working at the Texaco Station at 111th and Longwood Drive. John loved being on the 8th grade track team and won ribbons for the 100-yard dash and 220-yard relay. He also loved scouting and went to Scout Camp multiple times. In 1949, just before his senior year, John’s family was transferred with Swift and Company to Fort Worth, Texas.

John graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1949 from Texas A&M University. He worked summers during school as an electrician apprentice at the Swift and Company plant in Fort Worth. After graduation, he went into the Swift Engineering Department as a Time and Motion Study Engineer.

The major part of John’s engineering career with Swift and Company was at their meat packing plants in Omaha, Nebraska; Boise, Idaho; and Jackson, Mississippi. He then spent 10 years at the Swift Research and Development facility in Oakbrook, Illinois, in charge of Controls and Instrumentation in their Engineering Research Department. He left Swift and Company in 1977 and spent another 17 years as a professional engineering consultant, working on international projects in Canada, Panama, Sweden, Germany, Hong Kong, and the People’s Republic of China.

It was during High School that he became friendly with Elizabeth Jane Carson and they became steadies. They were married July 22, 1950, right after she graduated from Baylor University. Their first two children, John Graves III and Emily Ann, were born in Fort Worth. Their third child, Elizabeth Amy, was born in Boise, Idaho.

John became a Master Mason in Texas and went on to become a 32-degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner in Illinois.

Long-time member of First Baptist Church Blairsville, John was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, served as a deacon, participated in Silver Ties, played in the orchestra, and for many years took photos of new church members. He was a member of the Gideons and supported numerous Christian charities: Samaritan’s Purse, Habitat for Humanity, Jews for Jesus, Shriner’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Indian School.

John was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Alice Killebrew, his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth Jane Carson, and his son, John Graves Killebrew, III (wife, Lorena). 

He is survived by his daughter, Emily Ann Griesinger (husband Donald, deceased), his daughter, Elizabeth Amy Ramirez, ten grandchildren: Theresa, Brianna, Nicole, Delanie, Jonathan, Katie, Matthew, Bridget, Kyle, and Cody; twenty great grandchildren: Gracie, Tyler, Giovanni, Willow, Lenora, Sofia, Baridule, Adalae, Sara, Ethan, Jacob, Daliah, Jeremiah, Jacob, J.R., Robert, Payton, Logan, James, and Jacob; and one great-great grandchild, Paisley.

Visitation will be held at Cochran McDaniel Funeral Home, Blairsville, GA, on Thursday, February 19, 3:00-6:00pm.

The funeral Service will be held at First Baptist Church of Blairsville in the Rock Chapel on Friday, February 20, at 2:00pm.

Internment will be held at Union Memory Gardens Cemetery following the service.

Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of John G. Killebrew. You may sign the guest register and send condolences to the family at www.cochranmcdaniel.com