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‚àö¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?Ñ??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‚àö¬¢‚Äö?ᬮ‚Äö?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.
Sylvia, Meredith, and Michael. Joey and I want to express our deepest sympathy to your precious family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers and we will be here for you all. God Bless You!! All our love, Joey and Jan
Joey and Jan Johnson
Sorry to hear of John's passing. Enjoyed serving along with him on Eden City Council. Our prayers are with the family.n
Bobby Jones.
What can be said about John. He was a very giving man and good to the City of Eden. I met him at Winn Dixie while working. We became good friends and I am so very proud to say that. Sylvia you and your whole family are in my thoughts and most of all in my prayers. He will be truly missed!
Lisa Fisher
Sylvia, Meredith and Michael. I am Ellis and Alice Terry's youngest daughter. I wanted to express my deepest sympathy to you and your family at this time of your los. Your family is in my prayers. Linda
Linda Terry Hollowell
So sorry to hear about John my prays and thoughts are with all the family Jerry and Jo mears
Jo Mears
Sylvia, Meredith and Michael. John will be missed by many, he was a fun loving man who always had a smile to offer. I will be praying for each of you during this time. May God Bless and Carry you. With Love
Melinda Ore
I only knew Mr. Grogan for the past six years since I began working at the wastewater plant in the City. I didn't know anyone from this area, but he made coming to work for the City of Eden a wonderful experience. Our birthdays are only one day apart and I also graduated from WCU. I am glad I had a chance to get to know him over the years.
Melinda Ward
Mayor Grogran will truly be missed by his family, friends, constituents and all who have worked with him throughout his commitment to serving our community. I have enjoyed working with him and he always brought out a good laugh when things could have been a little tense. I am sure he will be missed but certainly not forgotten. My family and I will keep Mayor Grogan's family in our prayers for a new celebration of life in a much better place. It is only a good bye for now but for now is such a short time on earth compared to eternal life. God Bless! Respectfully, Lance Metzler
Lance Metzler
Meredith, Michael and the entire Grogan family, My deepest condolences go out to each of you at the loss of your loved one. May God give you His comfort and peace in the days ahead.
Scott Hall
So sorry for your lost, I will miss him as I know the Family will. Praying for the family
Jerry Epps
I will miss Mayer Grogran. Always had a smile. Praying for the family
Jerry Epps
Sylvia, Heaven's gain is our loss. Your husband was a giant of community involvement and leadership. Haven't seen you in years, but kept up with all John's accomplishments through news. Please be a peace knowing what a wonderful man he was and how much he loved and cared for his family, friends and community. God's love and my prayers to you and your family! Love, nanci dabbs
nanci dabbs
Sylvia, Meredith, Marcia, Madeline and Family, I send my deepest sympathy to you. I am so sorry for your loss and pray that God will give you peace and comfort in the days to come. What a sweet man he was! I always enjoyed his smile when he came to Central to see his granddaughters. God Bless you all. With Love,
Alison Sexton
Sorry to hear of Johnny's passing. He was a great man. All of our prayers and thoughts go To your family. Chuck and Barbara Horn
Charles Horn
For Sylvia, Meredith, and Michael, Please accept my sincere sympathy on the passing of your husband/father. His faithful dedication to God, country, and family has been a wonderful example for everyone in Eden and the surrounding community. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you. "Winky" Katherine Pasour (former PE teacher and Jump rope for Heart volunteer at Draper Elementary School)
Katherine "Winky" Pasour
I was saddened to hear of John's passing. I will miss him coming into the hospital to just sit and talk. He will be truly missed. May god give you the comfort you need during this difficult time. Prayers are with you all.
Janet Ore
We want to extend our deepest sympathies to you Sylvia and the rest of the family. John was a gentle giant who was always thinking of others. His passing has left a deep void in our hearts. He was very special to our entire family. He's like a beautiful rainbow -,gone too soon, but never forgotten. The memories and special moments we shared with the Mayor will be with each of us for the rest of our lives.
Brad, Cindy, Stephen, Rachel and Candice Corcoran
John. Thanks for being who you were. Thanks for your kind words along the way and thanks for your advice and council.
Dale Smith
Sylvia: My thoughts and prayers certainly go out to you and your family in these difficult times. John was a great friend and I enhjoyed his friendship through the years. Lawrence Mann
Lawrene Mann
Dear Sylvia and family, Please accept my deepest sympathy in the loss of John. We will miss him coming into the library and checking out books on tape and CD. You will be in my prayers.
Jennifer Dale Smith
Sylvia, you and your family are in our prayers during this very sad time. We are so sorry for your loss. John was a wonderful man.
Dot and Jim Bush
This week-end is a sad time for Leaksville United Methodist Church. I know we will celebrate Johnny Grogan's life today and tomorrow as we well should, but no matter how beautiful the celebration is, we all have broken hearts beneath the accolades. I can't get my mind set away from the loss our church, our city, and our 1st Family of Eden have experienced through the death of this outstanding man. I wrote Meredith a note yesterday to tell her that I saw a poster on Facebook stating that we measure the beauty of a person by the size of his heart. I told her that her dad had just won the beauty pageant! Our loving, kind, positive, always-smiling church member will be missed more than we are able to count at the moment. The void will be there for a long time for all of us. The only key we have is the one we use to lock these sweet memories in our hearts. Sympathy to Sylvia, Meredith, Michael, Johnny's two precious granddaughters, and to all of us who will miss having this outstanding leader in our midst!
Fern Ragan
Sylvia,we truly are sorry for your loss. Despite not knowing John well, Deborah & I know and love you very much and will be praying for you throughout this difficult time. We remember you and John hosting us in your home the night we first came to visit Eden, which would become our home for the next 26+ years now. Please know if there is anything we can do, (I have 3 young men with strong backs), all you need do, is call. We'll not be able to attend either the visitation or service because of church and work responsibilities, but I know after all you and John have meant to this community, there likely will be no room in either location. God's Blessings on your family in this trying time. With much love, Paul & Deborah Sasser and family
Paul Sasser
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in the loss of your loved one. Johnny will be missed by all.
Margaret H. Wray
Mrs. Grogan, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this sad time. Mr. Grogan was a very special man. I will miss watching him interact with the students at the school. He always put such a big smile on their faces when he came for lunch. I am so sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Leslie Lipford
Leslie Lipford
Sylvia: We are very sorry for your loss and regret we cannot be there. We have fond memories of you and Johnny. You both are a great credit to Eden. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Dick & Harriett Rutland
Harriett & Dick Rutland
To All of the Grogan's Family, My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time of sorrow....Johnny will be missed by all of the lives that he ever touched!! My dearest Sylvia, I will never forget him... What a great friend to my family. Sorry that I can't be at the funeral, but my heart and thoughts are with all of you.. Sincerely Yours, Louise Fleishman
Louise Fleishman
Thinking of you with Deepest Sympathies. Mark & Chris
Mark Underwood
My dear friend Sylvia and family, I had a wonderful interchange with Meredith after hearing the sad news about John! Mr. John was a true pillar of the community and always carried a smile. His optimism was infectious and I will always cherish the friendship we've shared over the years. I look forward to spending some time with you soon!! You all are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you! Ted Hopkins
Ted Hopkins
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Cindy Wall Sarwi
Cindy Wall Sarwi
I am so sorry for your loss. You all are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. With deepest sympathies, Brian Woodard
Brian Woodard
To the Grogan Family: Our sincere sympathy goes to all of you. We did not hear the news until today - 7-8-13. My husband Joe Stanley and myself had the pleasure of working at the City of Eden in the past and ejoyed working with Mayor Grogan. He always had a smile and hug to give us whenever we saw him. He was a wonderful contribution to this community and to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Joe, Dala Zach and Josh Stanley
Dala Stanley
John leaves quite a legacy in his devotion to Sylvia and the City of Eden. A great ambassador for his hometown, John seemingly never met a stranger. I will cherish our mutual respect and friendship for years to come. My life has been more blessed by knowing John and Sylvia Grogan.
Ken Church
My sincere condolences to Mayor Grogan's Family. I had the pleasure of knowing and serving with him while I was Interim City Msnager in Eden in 2000. John was always such a positive person and leader in the community. It was my pleasure to know and work with him. His leadership has made Eden a better place. My personal thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who are suffering this loss. Because I just learned of this I am unable to attend today's services. With sincere sympathy, Peter Bine
Peter Bine
Sylvia, I am sorry for your lose. You are in my prayers. You have always been one of my favorite people talking about work @ Morehead Hospital. Hang in there.
Teresa Dalton
Sylvia & family: Many of John's friends and colleagues in municipal government across North Carolina have your family in their thoughts and prayers. Many of those good people far away from Eden thought very highly of him. His 27 years of public service in elected office were remarkable. I enjoyed working with him for many years in my role as Executive Director of the N.C. League of Municipalities. I send my best wishes at this difficult time. Ellis Hankins Raleigh, NC
Ellis Hankins
My deepest sympathies to your entire family. Meredith, Marcia, Madeline, & Sylvia I know personally. Former neighbor of Meredith and the girls; Sylvia has been a wonderful hostess for the City employees for the last number of years and has treated me as if she has always known me. I am sorry to have never met Michael. Mayor john will be greatly missed; I loved his attitude and he treated all of us as if we were as important as anyone could possibly be. Meredith, I sent a request to you on Facebook and a couple of messages. Prayer and love to you all. The service was great! John Grogan was a "real" person!! Gail & Sammy Setliff
Gail Setliff
John was a good friend and all of Eden will miss him. One of my fondest memories was when he and Buddy Tulloch came to the house (old Weaver house) on College St. for an "inspection". Prior to approving the mortgage loan, they both had to pronounce the house to be sound. They did so by toboggan style in tandem sliding down all 16 stairs from 2nd to 1st floor!! They approved the loan on the spot!
David Smith
Sylvia, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. He was a very nice and friendly person. God bless you all.
Meryle Shropshire
We had a great mayer. RIP John Grogan. God Be With The Family GBY!
Ryan
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