John Earle was born on January 18,1928 in Selma Alabama to the late William Mayton and Vonie Lagrone Mayton. Raised in Selma, He attended A.G. Parrish High School and was a graduate of The Marion Military Institute of Alabama and The University of Alabama. He played football. John Earle was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity for over 60 years.   His college education was interrupted to serve his country in the 63rd field Artillery Battalion in the United States Army.

He was a lover of boats and had houses on the Alabama River as well as Horseshoe Lake. John’s main hobby was a Tennessee Walking Horses. He was a fixture at the Celebration for over 50 years in Shelbyville Tennessee.

John Earle was a Cotton Broker for Hohenberg Cotton Company both in the Memphis and Selma offices.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Preston Merrell Apperson Mayton, his siblings, Frances Mayton Thompson and Floyd LaGrone Mayton, his adored schnauzers: Fritz, Freddie, Scobey and Heidi, and his cherished horse, Caper.

John is survived by his stepdaughter, Minetry Apperson Crowley, and her husband Everett Whitman “Whit” Crowley, with whom he lived, Hildy his dog, and his brother William “Bill” Mayton of Cape Fair, MO.

A private burial was held at Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Dark Horse Rescue, Inc. P .O. Box 781,Hernando, MS. 38632 or to the Cotton Museum 65 Union Ave, Memphis, TN. 38103