John George Cloer

On August 1, 1929, John George Cloer started his adventure.  He was born on that day at his mothers’ homeplace in Spillcorn, Madison County, in the mountains of North Carolina.  He was delivered by his aunt, who happened to be a midwife because the doctor could not get there in time.

John grew up in the mountains as his father moved for work in the lumber industry.  He attended small schools in places like Rainbow Springs, did his homework by lamplight and eventually graduated from Franklin High School.  During this time, he was active with his family in church and was baptized in 1941 in the Little Tennessee River by Watauga Baptist Church.

At the age of 19, John joined the United States Navy and spent four years there and was a veteran of the Korean War.  He served on the USS Rendova as an Aviation Bosuns Mate and rose to the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class.

After an honorable discharge, John spent another 4 years getting a Science degree from Western Carolina University.  It was during this time that he followed his father and grandfather into the Junaluskee Masonic Lodge in Franklin, NC where he remained a member for 70 years.

Upon graduation he became a School Teacher and applied the craft of teaching middle school earth science in places as diverse as Asheville, San Antonio, and Charlotte.  He would occasionally return to his alma mater as he worked on his master’s degree, where he met the love of his life, Tommie Irvina Allen, and married her in 1962 at Nevins Presbyterian Church.

Eventually settling in the Derita Community in Charlotte, NC, he and Irvina raised their two sons and one daughter until Irvinas’ death in 1979.  He carried on as a single Dad loving and supporting his children and seeing them grow to play, work and worship as part of the Derita Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon.

After retiring from the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, John enjoyed the life of a hobby farmer and spent time raising goats, emus, and llamas, among other things.  He was a beekeeper and his hives produced some of the finest sourwood and poplar honey.  In time, when his children gave him grandchildren, he was known as a Grandaddy who always had some ice cream and candy on hand.  In all things in life, John was a lifelong learner and always curious.

Years eventually wore on his body, and he moved to Lenoir, NC to be near his daughter as she looked after him, but his mind never dimmed, providing hours of conversation with whoever was fortunate enough to know him.

On February 8th, 2024, at the age of 94, John George Cloer: Mountain Man, Christian, Sailor, Freemason, Scholar, Teacher, Husband, Father, Farmer, Grandfather, and all-around Wiseman reunited in the Glory of his Lord with his Wife, Dad, Mom, and many others who had gone on before.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Tommie Irvina Allen Cloer, and his parents, Thad Hez and Ollie Hendrix Hensley Cloer.  He is survived by his son Thomas Thad Cloer and wife Tina Drawdy Cloer, his son Paul Edwin Cloer, and his daughter Georgeanna Cloer Josey and husband John Josey, his grandchildren:  Sarah Hedrick, Zoe Cloer, Ridge Hedrick, Nathan Cloer and Susannah Josey.  John is also survived by his sisters Shirley Cloer Rocha and husband Augustine and Joyce Cloer Viale, one nephew and two nieces.

Honorary Pallbearers are Tim Holtzclaw, Jamie Kennedy, Bo Knight, and Sonny Snipes.

The family will receive friends at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 17th at Evans Funeral Home in Lenoir, NC with funeral services following at 3:00.  A graveside service with military honors and masonic rites will be held on Sunday, February 18th at Woodlawn Cemetery in Franklin, NC at 12:30pm.

The family is extremely grateful to Evans Funeral Home and Lenoir Presbyterian Church for their help during this time.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his name to Lenoir Presbyterian Church.

Funeral service will be live streamed, please click the link and follow the prompts to view the service live stream: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=17315697-061f-4f7f-b644-44b7f3928d3b

Graveside service will be live streamed, please click the link and follow the prompts to view the graveside service live stream: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=f264ab8f-b703-44ca-a49e-a90f9dbd6d4c