Vera Eaker

Vera Prue Sellers Eaker, age 101 of Cherryville, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Carolina Care Health and Rehabilitation.  She was born August 22, 1921 in Gaston County. She was one of ten children born to the late Grady and Cleo Sellers.  She was a 1939 graduate of Tryon High School.

Vera grew up attending Mary’s Grove Methodist Church. She later joined the First United Methodist Church in Cherryville where she was a member for over 70 years. She was a member of the Mae Harrelson, Florene Styles, and June Medlin Sunday School Classes. She held many offices in her Sunday school classes as well as in the church, and was a member of the Vera Eaker Circle. She was a lifetime member of the Cherryville Chapter of the Eastern Star.

Vera’s first job was working at the Roses Five and Dime starting out making twenty-five cents an hour. She later retired after working for 40 years at the Dora Yarn Mill where she was a member and president of the Dora Mill Women's Club. Vera enjoyed traveling and cooking and was very talented in ceramics and quilting. She loved giving many of these items as gifts to family and friends.

She was Cherryville Charity League Woman of the Year in 1993. Vera also belonged to the Cherryville Senior Citizen’s Club. She loved to tell her family, friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren stories and her history that she had collected over a century of her life. Her 100th birthday was attended by many friends and family and she loved celebrating a century of a life well lived for God, family, and community.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alonzo Allen Eaker; son-in-law, Ronnie Anthony; siblings, Marvin Sellers, Ben Sellers, Edith Smith, Bertha Eaker, Jeanette Sellers, Alline Leonhardt, Ophelia Hamrick, and Doris Jones.

Survivors include her son, Danny Eaker and wife, Judie; daughter, Pam Anthony; sister, Shirley Gunn; grandchildren, Valerie and Dwayne Keefe, Allen and Lisa Eaker, Heidi and Chad Cash, and Wes and Angie Anthony; great grandchildren, Austin Keefe, Noah, Katie, and Sarah Eaker, Alli and Alex Anthony; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 to 2:45 PM prior to the service at the church.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Zack Christy and Reverend Dr. Vince Hefner officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service at Bethlehem Community Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 601 N. Pink St. Cherryville, NC 28021.

Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com