Rev. John F. Phelps, 63, of Dukes, on Saturday, July 19 at Leitchfield
Hospital, surrounded by his family, went to be with our Lord and Savior. He
was born in Marion, KY on January 20, 1945. He graduated from Shades Valley
High School, Birmingham, AL in 1963, Bethel College, McKenzie, TN in 1967,
and Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1970. He was an ordained minister in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He met and married Diann Ray while at Bethel
College. After graduating from Vanderbilt, John and Diann moved to Hancock
County where John taught school at Cloverport Public School from 1970-1985.

His teaching strategy was to make learning fun. While teaching school, John
was also the pastor at the Dukes Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a volunteer
firefighter with the Dukes Volunteer Fire Department, and was an EMT. He was
also know for his love of photography, his motorcycle, and his guitar. In
1985 he was called to full time ministry and moved to Clinton, OK where he
pastored the Clinton CP Church. In 1990, he moved to Birmingham, AL where he
pastored the Crestline CP Church. While in Birmingham, he became involved
with and pastored the Messianic Jewish Congregation Beth El Shaddai. In
1997, John and Diann moved back to Hancock County and he once again pastored
the Dukes CP Church, John also established the Ministry of haOr l'Olam,
traveling and teaching the Hebrew foundation of the Christian faith.

www.haOr.org. John's joy was teaching the Word of God and his zeal was
contagious. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. J.D. and Anne
Phelps; a son, Paul Douglas; and granddaughter, Samantha Nicole.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Diann Phelps; daughter, Kim (Joe)
Wilborn; son, Johnny (Lori) Phelps; and grandchildren, Aaron, Sarah, and
Joshua Wilborn and Dustin Phelps, all of Dukes; a brother, Doug Phelps of
Kingston Springs, TN and a sister, Donna Fite of Columbia, MS.

Services were Wednesday at the Dukes Cumberland Presbyterian Church with
Arrangements handled by Gibson & Son Funeral Home. A memorial service will
be held in Birmingham AL at the Advocate Center on Aug. 9 at 10 AM.