John Crocker

John "Tommy" Terrell Crocker, age 94, of St. Mark's Church Road, died September 25, 2014 at Hospice of Kings Mountain. Tommy was born September 10, 1920 in Gaston County, a son of the late Charlie Clayton and Christine Stroupe Crocker.

He was a WW II Army veteran, home builder and still a licensed contractor, and an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Tommy took great pride in his garden and being the Valentine's Day King when he was at the Brian Center, Lincolnton. Mr. Crocker enjoyed being fashionable and a trendsetter, even parasailing in Cozumel at the age of 87. He was proud of his family and the best "Pop" in the world.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Beam Crocker in 2007; brothers, Paul Crocker and infant brother; and a sister, Blanche Barker.

Survivors include a son, Tommy Earle Crocker (Martha) of Cherryville; two daughters, Terri Putnam (Roger) of Kings Mountain and Tammie McSwain (Terry) of Cherryville; seven grandchildren, Jodi Thomas of Cherryville, Greg Crocker of Cherryville, Mitch Crocker of Cherryville, Cristi Boyd (Chip) of Kings Mountain, Damon Putnam of Kings Mountain, Tiffany Dalton (Brad) of Cherryville, and Terra McSwain of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and eight great grandchildren, Kolt, Chase, Kimber, Drake, Deacon, Daylee, Maranda, and Chris.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 3:00 PM at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with Rev. Malcom Lerch officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Carpenter's Funeral & Cremation Services.

Memorials may be made to Yantz's Sun is Back Foundation, 17301 Huntersville-Concord Road., Huntersville, NC 28078 or St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1203 St. Mark's Church Rd., Cherryville, NC 28021.