Obituary of John E. Eggleston

Jasper, NY - John E. Eggleston Sr., 75, of Jasper, NY, passed away at home on Thursday, January 17, 2013. John was born in Haddonfield, NJ on Dec. 14, 1937 and was the son of John R. and Lorraine Hurd Eggleston. He and the former Susanne M. Murphy were married on Nov. 7, 1960 and soon after moved to Medford, NJ. John and Susanne raised three boys and owned and operated a tool and die shop in Somerdale, NJ from 1972 through 1986. Together they built their business from a small tool shop to a larger operation which included a 24 hour injection molding shop. His three sons also worked at the family business along with other family members during the life of the business. In an effort to return to a simpler lifestyle away from the fast growing communities of New Jersey, they sold their business and moved to Jasper, NY. John had the intention to live his lifelong dream of being a cowboy so he established Eggleston Farms Registered Polled Hereford Beef Farm in March of 1986, as he grew up as a huge fan of John Wayne. He also opened a machine shop service on the farm. He truly enjoyed the Jasper lifestyle in the easy going rural community he now called home. John also enjoyed taking his boys on countless deep sea fishing trips during their childhood and even into his senior years. Upon the passing of his wife unexpectedly on May 18, 1998 with the help of the generous support of our small town community, John continued to work on the farm and in his machine shop until the affects of Alzheimer's disease overtook him. John is survived by his three sons, Mark D. Eggleston, wife Joyce and son Luke of Malaga, NJ, Matthew W. Eggleston (Lesley Adams) of Parkertown, NJ and his daughters Sara, Laura and Hannah Eggleston and John E. Eggleston Jr., his wife Jean and their son John E. Eggleston III and wife Sara. Also surviving is John's mother, Loraine Eggleston of Pennsylvania, his sisters, Bunny Weber of Maryland and Rainey Riley of Virginia, his brothers, Bill Eggleston of Pennsylvania and Clarence Eggleston of New Jersey as well as several nieces and nephews. Friends and family will remember John as a generous and fun loving soul that will be greatly missed by all. John Jr. and Jean would like to give special thanks to Dawn Murphy and Tracy Lecrone for their tireless efforts to keep John comfortable in his latter years. Their dedication to his well being is greatly appreciated. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 19 from 3 to 5 PM at the H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY. A memorial service will follow there at 5 PM with Rev. Brian Diffenbacher officiating. Memorial contributions are requested to Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Service: Saturday, January 19, 2013 5:00 PM H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home 1607 Main St. Woodhull, New York Visitation: Saturday, January 19, 2013 3 to 5 PM H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home 1607 Main St. Woodhull, New Yorl