John William Laseter, 71, met his Savior face-to-face on July 2, 2025.
Known as “Billy” to family, John was born July 23, 1953, on Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth to Staff Sergeant John David and Gladys Laseter and named for his grandfather. He grew up in Corsicana, Texas, graduating from Corsicana High School in 1971, and in 1975 from Baylor University.
In June 1976, John met Mandy Richards, and a year later they married. John worked in retail at JC Penny, F W Woolworth, Dollar General, and Pier 1, but spent 27 years with Wal-Mart as a store director and district manager. He was an exceptionally skilled musician playing everything from trumpet to guitar and fiddle, but he was especially fond of the piano. He had a passion for antique cars, owning several over the years.
An avid reader and enthusiast of genealogy and history, John, however, could rarely bear idleness. If not in the middle of a major home, auto, or other project, he was preparing his next. He nevertheless always had time for his sons’ (and later grandchildren’s) interests. He had a quick wit and was always ready with a joke or silly song.
John was a member of Arden Road Baptist Church in Amarillo for over 33 years.
John is survived by his wife; three sons, Jason and wife, Kimberly; John Jr. and wife Michelle; and Ethan; and three grandchildren, James, Jackson, and Abigail.
The family will receive visitors from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Lighthouse Funeral Home, 3707 Wolflin Ave. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 14200 Interstate 27, Amarillo, Texas. Arrangements are under the care of Lighthouse Funeral Home.
My dearest brother, I loved you so very much. We may have had our differences through the years, but you have always been my big brother. I will love and muss you forever. Always in my heart
Casey
What a wonderful friend with John in our lives!!!When United Supermarkets stopped marketing our Welcome Pardner coupons for their stores, John just happened to ask me about it in the Walmart parking lot. “Come into my office!!!” My daughter, Patricia was about 10 and she thought the back of a Walmart store was magical!!!
I kept telling John I thought people were going to cause the store to go broke (“FREE bacon or sausage, eggs, milk and biscuits”). “No! All that stuff is in the BACK of the store. They’ll think about what they’ll get FREE and spend even more throughout the rest of the store. Sure enough. When John would see me shopping, he’d come running up to me with the store stats and how much business we were bringing in. I brought him into Lions Club and he liked the way I played & vice versa. When John’s job changed and we didn’t get to see each other often … when we did, time had not passed a bit. What a dear, Godly man. Thank you for sharing him.
Mandy and Family, I am so sorry to hear of John’s passing. In my life I have run into few men whom I respected as much as John. Our time together at Pier 1 was brief but I learned so much from him. He like myself was hooked to retail management and I cannot tell you how lucky I was to have him as part of my team in Amarillo! I recently had a dream in which John was in that prompted me to look him up and was very sad to learn of his passing. I tried to contact him over the years but I suppose it was just not meant to be. Please accept my sincere condolences on his passing and I will forever be thankful our paths crossed and how he positively impacted my life. RIP John…. Ted R Maes- Gibsonia PA
August 1,2026 – Mandy and kids, I just learned of John’s passing and am sorry to hear. John was a great friend and we did a lot of growing up during of ‘formative years’ at Baylor. He was a wonderful friend with a big heart and quick wit, always kept me laughing. I especially cherish the time we spent playing the guitar and piano together. I hope this note finds you and know he will be missed. Thanks for the memories, John. Brent Reid, Cushing, OK