John E. Hebler passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tenn. He was 81.

Born in Vicksburg, and a resident of Oakland, Tenn., he was the son of the late John M. Hebler and the late Dodie Yates Hebler both of Vicksburg. Mr. Hebler was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church. He was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and Troy State University where he received a BAS in Resource Management.

Mr. Hebler was a retired management analyst with the Naval Air Base in Pensacola, Fla. He was also a retired mill superintendent with Anderson Tully Lumber Company in Vicksburg. He served 21 ½ years as an intelligence officer with the Army National Guard and was a proud retired veteran.

Mr. Hebler was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed weightlifting and had a large library of books as he had a love for reading.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Martin T. Hebler and his nephew, John Patrick Hebler.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, June Austin Hebler of Oakland; two daughters, Karen Hebler McCrary (Conrad) of Rossville, Tenn. and Kathy Hebler Higgason (Michael) of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; four grandsons, John Conrad McCrary (Meghan) of Arlington, Tenn., Jacob Austin McCrary of Memphis, Tenn., Paden Tanner Higgason of Memphis, Tenn., and Dr. Lorenzo Olive, United States Navy, San Diego, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Ann Elizabeth McCrary and Conrad Austin (Mac) McCrary both of Arlington, Tenn.; one sister, Margaret Patricia Hebler Gray (Richard) of Houston, Texas and one brother, Michael T Hebler (Patricia) of Loganville, Ga., and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Mr. Hebler will be held at Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Ave., Saturday, Jan. 25. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. with the service beginning at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Vicksburg Catholic Schools, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or visit VicksburgCatholic.org.