John Eaker

John Mark Eaker went home to be with the Lord on May 5th, 2014. John was born to the late Cecil and Viola Beam Eaker on March 9th, 1949. John always valued education. He was a graduate of Cherryville High School and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 1972, he graduated from Appalachian State University with a master's degree in guidance counseling. John worked as a teacher and a guidance counselor for many years in Lincoln, Cleveland and Gaston County Schools, retiring in 2012. John served on the Gaston County School Board for 22 years. John developed his love for the outdoors growing up on the family farm, Eaker Dairy of Cherryville. He loved running, biking, hiking, visiting the elderly, caring for animals, acting, rafting, camping, conserving the environment, playing jokes, studying genealogy and politics, and traveling. John was always embarking on an adventure. When he was 13, he and friend, Andy West, rode their bicycles from Cherryville to Myrtle Beach, SC. He completed his goal of visiting all 50 states with a trip to Eaker's Airforce Base in Arkansas in 2011. John was a lifetime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Cherryville and a longtime member of the Rotary Club in Cherryville.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, Boyce Eaker, and brother-in-law, Jackie Harris.

He is survived by his sisters, Patsy Lineberger (Harold) of Iron Station, NC, Sally Harris of Cary, NC, and Freida Schoderbek (Robert Sr.) of Rockville, MD; brother, Rusty Eaker (Kim) of Cherryville; his best friend, Glenn Burgess of Cherryville; many beloved nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, cousins, and good friends.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday night from 6:00-9:00 pm at the home of John Eaker, 610 Roy Eaker Rd. Cherryville.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 2:00 pm at St. John's Lutheran Church, 310 W. Church St., Cherryville, with Rev. Dr. Eric Childers officiating. Burial will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cherryville High School Education Foundation, PO Box 301, or St. John's Lutheran Church, PO Box 100, both in Cherryville, NC.