John "Buzz" E. Cantrell

John E. “Buzz” Cantrell, 72, of West Portsmouth died Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He was born February 5, 1951 in Portsmouth, to the late Willard Guy Stanley and Ruth (Blake) Hale.

John was a veteran of the United States Army. John attended Shawnee State University and worked for many years as a COTA until switching careers. He retired in 2011 from the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities where he had the opportunity to fulfill his life’s passion.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, David Stanley and a sister, Judy Cantrell.

John is survived by the love of his life, Deidra (Wooten) Cantrell whom he married in 1979, three children, Johnda (Major) Connally of New Boston, Brandon (Samantha) Cantrell of Lucasville, and Eddie (Stephanie) Phipps of South Shore, KY; a brother, Dan (Sue) Stanley of Portsmouth, three sisters, Mary (Charles) Vaughn of Huntington, W.V., Ruthann (Thomas) Roe of Rosemount, and Bonnie Yelley of Portsmouth; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by six grandchildren that he adored Kaleb Connally, Jerica Connally, Bryson Cantrell, Braydon Cantrell, Emily Austin, and Eddie Phipps, Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at Melcher Hammer Funeral Home in Portsmouth, with Bishop Harold G. Bell speaking. A visitation for friends and relatives will be on Thursday, from 3:00 P.M. until the time of service at 5:00 P.M.

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