John Warner Dunn

John Warner Dunn was born July 10, 1956 in Dallas, Texas and died at his home in Bastrop, Texas, on November 13, 2024, at age 68. His parents were Warner A. Dunn and Barbara Barnes Dunn, and his older siblings Mark and Linda Dunn.

He spent most of his childhood in Nacogdoches, Texas, after his father opened a veterinary practice there. He attended Nacogdoches and Houston schools, a 1974 graduate of Nacogdoches High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State University.  The majority of his working years were with Applied Materials Company in Austin, Texas, in the quality control department, inspecting components for computer chips. Engineers with degrees recognized his expertise and often came to him for technical help.

John was a devout Christian, a believer from the time of his childhood at Fredonia Hill Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Later in life he converted to the Orthodox faith and worshipped at St. Andrew the First-Called Eastern Orthodox Church in Lockhart, Texas.

One of John’s greatest passions was his music. He sang, played string instruments, and even composed songs. His first love may have been singing at senior care centers, leading in hymns and gospel songs in the Bastrop and Lockhart areas. But he also played, along with some dear friends, for varied venues such as Texas Folklife Festival, Bastrop Music Festival, area restaurants, and Bastrop Sunday in the Park Brunch. His longtime and most recent band was Smitty City, joined by close friends and band mates: Steve Smith, Tal Wigington, Linda Greene and Bryan Herring. Linda Greene and the Soultines held a special place in his heart and allowed him to share both his vocal and bass guitar talents singing soulful gospel music. He was a mentor to many young string artists and generous with his time, experience and equipment, very proud of their accomplishments. His music heritage continues through many of those young artists whom he encouraged.

John was intelligent, compassionate, caring, and witty. His favorite forms of humor were parodies, mispronunciations, and plays on words. Friends and family have evidence of his humor in his unexpected texts and quick wit.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Warner and Barbara; his grandparents John, Mamie, Ada Bell and Frank; an aunt Patricia and an uncle John/Pete, as well as his loving companion and friend, Janis Alesi.  He is survived by his children, Bethany Dunn and Jonathan Dunn of Cedar Creek; his fiance’ Loretta Rice Cammack of Nacogdoches; his granddaughters, Abigail Dunn and Kassandra Dunn, and their mothers Sylvia and Braylee, respectively; stepmother Mayra Dunn; siblings Mark Dunn and Phyllis, Linda Dunn Fulmer and Barham; close friend Tal Wiginton; aunt, Nancy Dunn McCollum and Harold; nieces, Katy and Laurel; nephew Karl and their spouses; great nieces and nephews, Gavin, Sam, Abby, Lydia and Paizlyn; and cousins, Denise, Susan, Penny, Tim and Mary, and their spouses.

Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral service at 10:00 AM at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home, 2079 Highway 79 East, Bastrop, Texas, on Wednesday, November 20th, with visitation at 9:00 AM prior to the service.  A graveside service will follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Nacogdoches at 4:00 PM.