J.V. "Jack" DeWitt, 85, of Dyersburg, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center.

He was a franchisee owner of Sonic Drive In, founder of D & B Properties and a member of Phillips Street Church of God and Village Baptist Church in Destin, FL. He was a graduate of Viola High School in Viola, AR and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served for six years. He was a Mason and a Shriner.

Mr. DeWitt married his first wife, Lucille T. Cantrell on July 2, 1946, who preceded him in death. Later he had married his second wife, Shirley Smith Roberson DeWitt on December 8, 1986, who survives.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Dyersburg Funeral Home with the Rev. Clayton Privett and the Rev. Kenny Chessor officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Dyersburg Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Ann Smith DeWitt; two daughters, Patricia A. Epple and Karen DeWitt Williams (Ben); two sons, Bob DeWitt (Peggy) and Eddie DeWitt (Lola); three step-daughters, Penny Guthrie (Al), Sue Brown and Elaine Stuart (John); a step-son, Mark Roberson (Carla); seven grandsons, Kenny Epple (Jossette), Steven Epple, Scott Epple (Brandy), Gary Epple (Diana), Chris Williams, Matthew Williams and Josh DeWitt (Kayla); four granddaughters, Angela McDonald (Steve), Tiffany DeWitt, Sara Amin (Kalpsish) and Brittany DeWitt; fourteen great-grandsons, Jacob Epple, Justin Epple, Jesse Epple, J.D. Epple, Jonas Epple, Thomas Epple, John Epple, Michael Epple, Matthew Epple, Luke Epple, Jaxon Williams, Dylan DeWitt, Blake DeWitt and Arden DeWitt; nine great-granddaughters, Kiersten Epple, Brittni Epple, Madilyn Epple, Cecelia Epple, Abby DeWitt, Tiffany DeWitt, Delia DeWitt, Samara DeWitt and Addie DeWitt; seventeen step-grandchildren, Sara Jo Mason Ferguson, Kody Howard, Erin Guthrie, Mackenzie Guthrie, Andalyn Weatherly, Mallory Roberson, Chelsey Roberson, Kari Romero (Justin), Little Jack Romero, Gabriel Romero, Robyn Taylor (Don), Anzley Taylor, Whitney Dzikowski (Bart), Ben Dzikowski, Charlie Dzikowski, Thomas Dzikowski and Phillip Potts (Jill); a sister, Bea Thornberry of Raytown, MO; and two brothers, William DeWitt (Wanda) of West Plains, MO and Troy DeWitt (Kay) of Amory, MS; and the two family cats, Leo and Angel.

Besides his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, William and Celia Owen DeWitt; and a sister, Hazel Hodges.

Pallbearers will be Doug Wilkerson, Barry Ladd, Hughes Clardy, Mark Roberson, Robert Rubel, Phil Potts, Chris Williams and Matthew Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Mason and Howard Guthrie.

The family wants to give much thanks and gratitude to his loving nurse, Laura Beth Pritchett.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.