John E. Grogan

Mayor John Everett Grogan, age 78, of Eden, NC, died July 4, 2013, in his home, peacefully surrounded by his wife and children after a courageous fight with cancer.

He is preceded in death by his parents Louie and Jesse Grogan; three sisters, Louise Koontz, Lois Pyron and Helen Whitmer; and, three children, Marcia, Jay and Kevin Grogan.

A service to celebrate the life of John, will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, July 8, 2013, at Leaksville United Methodist Church, followed by an inurnment at Overlook cemetery in Eden.

He was a graduate of Tri-City High School, served in the Air Force and graduated from Western Carolina University. After college, he began a career in banking at Gate City Savings and Loan, retiring from BB&T as a Senior Vice President and County Executive

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sylvia Shelton Grogan of Eden; his children, Meredith Grogan Lacopo, of Greensboro, NC, and Michael Shane Grogan, of Washington, DC; and, his grandchildren, Marcia Jane Lacopo and Madeline Ann Lacopo, of Greensboro, NC.

Throughout his life of public service, Mayor Grogan served as both President and Executive Director of the Eden Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Eden City Council for 20 years before being elected to Mayor in 2005 and again in 2009, in addition to leading numerous civic organizations and volunteer boards throughout the region and state.

Grogan has received many honors including: Eden's Citizen of the Year, Wal-Mart Community Citizenship Award, Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, and recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine��������?ᬮ���?�??one of the highest honors a Governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

He was a long-time member of the Leaksville United Methodist Church where he regularly attended the men��������?ᬮ���?묢s bible class. In leisure, he enjoyed golf, baseball, and traveling with family and friends.

Mayor Grogan celebrated the joy of life through fellowship with friends and family each day. He was a man of great reverence who also knew how to have a good time. Celebration and love surrounded him wherever he went.

Mayor Grogan leaves a legacy of his kindness, leadership and a commitment to making the community a better place for all people through fair and honest service.

Visitation will be held at the Morehead/Fair House next to Fair Funeral Home on Sunday, July 7, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Good Samaritan Project fund at the Morehead Memorial Hospital Foundation, a charitable organization providing financial assistance and access to health care for the most needy, at 117 E. Kings Hwy, Eden, NC 27288 or www.morehead.org.

Online condolences can be made through Fair Funeral Home at www.fairfuneralhome.com.