MIDLAND - John William Zant passed away in Midland on Mar. 16, 2025. He was a rancher and farmer in Glasscock County. He was 90 years old.
He was born on Apr. 29, 1934 at Midland. His parents were John Bradford Zant and Annie Lee Brunson Zant. He was educated in Midland, attended Texas Tech for a year, and after an impactful time in the army graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1960 with a BBA. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After school he returned to the family ranch and spent his life working there. He met DeEtte Green, an elementary school teacher, in 1967, and in 1968 they were married; they had no children. They were inseparable, and spent 56 years together working hard in northwest Glasscock County.
He was a thrifty thirdgeneration rancher, and reluctantly became a self-taught farmer; in time his cotton fields always looked better than anyone else's. He was an extremely well-read man, with wideranging interests. He was an active board member at the First National Bank of Stanton for decades, an activity that gave him great satisfaction. He is survived by nephews John Clint Hurt and wife June Fouche of Midland, and Patrick Hurt and wife Tia Lustig of New York City. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Midland. " …By brooks too broad for leaping The lightfoot boys are laid; The rose-lipt girls are sleeping In fields where roses fade." A.E. Houseman, A Shropshire Lad