“Honest fame awaits the truly good”, Jean Kolling (1964); Jean Rae (Kolling) Eaker's, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Nurse Practitioner, and Air Force veteran, earthly life ended, and her heavenly life began on November 26th, 2024, at the age of 78 after a courageous battle against multiple lung diseases and cancer.

Jean graduated from Collinsville High School in 1964 as the Kahok Princess with creative talents including singing and band. She graduated Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in 1967. She was a dedicated Labor and Delivery nurse at Oliver Anderson Hospital from 1974 - 2008 and retired after 34 years of caring for mothers and babies. Seeking to expand her nursing experience and serve her country Jean joined the Airforce Reserves in 1992, as an Infection Control nursing specialist. Jean obtained her BSN from McKendree University in 1995. She served 14 years with the 932nd ASTS at Scott Air Force Base and achieved the rank of Major. During that time she became the first of the family to obtain a MSN as an Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner from Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health (2002) and Northern Kentucky University (2008). As a Nurse Practitioner she served as a Nurse Practitioner at Fort Riley, Kansas from 2008 to 2013 and finished her esteemed career at Womack Hospital Family Medicine Clinic completing her federal service in 2021 at the age of 75.

Jean was a devoted member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Maryville Illinois and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fayetteville North Carolina.

She left behind a proud legacy of public service and military service to others through her children and grandchildren.

Jean is survived in heavenly life by her sons William Scott Eaker (Wife Kathleen) and Jeffrey David Eaker (Wife Kate), and daughter Susanna Leigh Eaker Hitt (Husband Jeremiah), as well as numerous and loved grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in heavenly life by her husband William Oscar Eaker, brothers Larry and Neil Kolling, niece Laurie Blaylock, and parents Elmer and Anita Kolling.

Having lived a truly good life, Jean is remembered, loved, and respected by all those who were blessed to know her. A celebration of her earthly life will be held in the spring at the family farm in North Carolina where her ashes will be placed at the base of a dogwood tree according to her final wishes. The family has asked in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fayetteville NC or Project 22 to support the unseen wounds of war

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Jean Rae Eaker in your thoughts and prayers. 

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.