Jack Abernathy

John “Jack” B. Abernathy, age 83 of Cleveland, passed away on Monday, March 6, 2017 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Jack was a true mountain man with an entrepreneurial spirit. While he worked in logging and manufacturing in Helen through the years and also dabbled in real estate development, his true passion was being outdoors. He owned horses and raised cows, goats, pigs and chickens on his farm. Well into his 70s he grew a huge vegetable garden each year and loved to share his bounty with his family and neighbors.

Jack knew how to live off the land and was able to teach others those valuable skills by acting as a wilderness tour guide when he lived in Wyoming. He led many groups, including National Geographic photojournalists and hunters into the massive Wyoming wilderness for week-long backpacking trips.

Jack never met a stranger — he could reel you in with one of his tall tales and leave you wondering if any of it could possibly be true. He loved sharing stories, corny jokes and life lessons with his family. Anyone who was lucky enough to meet him will surely never forget him.

Mr. Abernathy was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lela Cantrell Abernathy; brothers, William Abernathy, Asa Abernathy, Edward Abernathy, and Hugh Abernathy; sisters, Estelle Abernathy and Beatrice Stover; niece, Becky Lynn Nalley; son-in-law, Mike Tone.

Survivors include his daughters, Patricia Ann Abernathy, Cleveland, Jackie Tone, Cleveland, and Regina Darlene Rain; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Faye Stone and Kevin Barnes, Pensacola, FL, and Margaret Deborah and Chuck Pruitt, Cleveland; mother of his children, Alma Jean Allen, Cleveland; brother, James Earl Abernathy, Panama City, FL; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Stone and Jerry Rider, Murrayville; brother and sister-in-law, Irvin Clarence and Donna Abernathy, Panama City, FL; grandchildren, Jonathan and Joanna Robinson, Jessi Stone and Matt Welborn, Leilah Stone, Kyle Pruitt, Anna Beth Pruitt, Cherith Pruitt, Michael Tone, Jr., Caleb and Jessica Threlkeld, and Makeys Rain; great grandchild, August Robinson; niece, Sherry Sosebee; nephews, David Sosebee, Michael Sosebee, and Chess Abernathy; special friends, Roy and Tammy Holbrook, Wayne Chambers, Tony Tipton, Chris Nix, and Josh Lutz.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home.  The Rev. Roy Holbrook and the Rev. David Sosebee will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland