John Wayne Escalante, 71, of Greenville, passed away May 20, 2020 at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.  Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday at Vansickle Baptist Church with Rev. Roger Ratliff and Rev. Augie Gomez officiating.  Burial will follow at Hogeye Cemetery in Celeste.  Coker-Mathew Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born June 16, 1948 in Greenville, Johnny was the son of Modesto Escalante and Isabel Cabazos Cruz.  On September 23, 1966 in Greenville, he married Linda Gail Hutcheson.  He was employed by JD Russell Co. as a machinist. 

He is survived by his step-father, Ramon Trejo of Greenville; daughters Teresa Guzman and husband Ray of Greenville, Christina Tull and husband Michael of Caddo Mills, Dianna Gomez and husband Andrew of Greenville and Johna Escalante and Jared Fitzgearld, Sr. of Greenville; brothers Moe Escalante and wife Edna of Greenville and Phillip Escalante of Alamo; sisters Patricia Ramirez and husband Antonio of Sulphur Springs and JoAnn Ruelas and husband Juan of Greenville; grandchildren John Willis, Bryan Willis, Maleah Singleton, Bobbi Stogner, Raechelle Henson, Amanda Esters, Arica Tull, Sarah Gomez, Alysia Green, Monica Wilkinson, Jared Fitzgearld, Jr., and Jade Fitzgearld; and 22 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Gail Escalante; parents Modesto Escalante and Isabel Trejo; sister Mary Irene Flores; and nephew Michael Escalante.

Pallbearers will be Ray Guzman, Michael Tull, Andrew Gomez, Jared Fitzgearld, Sr., Phillip Escalante, and Moe Escalante.