Julie Eaker Memorial Fund
Donation protected
On March 3rd my mother, Julie Eaker, unexpectedly passed away shortly after her 64th birthday. This was sudden and something no one could have seen coming. I have mixed emotions about even creating this GoFundMe page as my family and I are very proud people, but I have learned that my mother did not have any life insurance and I am concerned about my father's ability to meet his financial obligations.
On February 14th my mother had a total hip replacement surgery. She had been looking forward to this surgery for months as her hip pain really affected her mobility in being able to spend time with her grandchildren and travel with my dad.
Outside of her hip pain, she was very healthy as she did not smoke, did not excessively drink or take any drugs. She managed chronic back pain for over 17 years, never complaining and never letting it slow her down.
(Fort Meyers Beach Vacation 2019)
Everyone who knew my mother is just in complete shock that this has happened as she really was the most kind and caring person you could know.
(Mom with friends in 2018)
When people meet me, they are often surprised to hear that my parents are both deaf. There were usually questions like, "What was that like growing up?" "Could you talk when you were a kid?" The reality was that it gave me and my brothers the opportunity to understand the deaf culture and community. My parents met at the Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD) in Fulton, Missouri. The deaf community loved my mother, she was passionate about being an advocate for issues that affected the deaf community.
(Mom, Dad, Sandy, May - lifelong friends from MSD)
(Mom and my youngest daughter Hadleigh signing I Love You)
Her greatest love were her grandchildren as she was so looking forward to being able to do more as she had been limited for the last year because of the hip pain.
(Mom with all the grandchildren in 2012)
(My brother Dennis and his family on a cruise)
(Mom with her granddaughter Elise at her high school graduation in 2018 and my grandfather/her father, Chuck who still survives.)
We still do not know for sure what caused her death. She had her hip surgery on February 14, her birthday was on February 20th as she recovered from surgery. At first all seemed ok as she progressed. A few days post-op, she complained of being light-headed and dizzy and took blood pressure readings at home which were very low. On Monday, March 2 she had a follow up appointment with her hip doctor and she raised concerns about her dizziness and low blood pressure. She was told to contact her family physician. The next evening she died. Our family has requested an autopsy and we are waiting for those results to hopefully get some answers as to how this happened.
Fortunately I got to see my mom the Sunday after her birthday. My oldest daughter, Mackenzie made my mom homemade chocolate covered strawberries and I don't know why, but I thought I should try to take a photo of her opening her gift... The photo above ended up being the last photo we have of my mother which I am so grateful for. This is how I will remember my mother for the rest of my life. She was such a vibrant person and never let any challenges get her down.
Again, this GoFundMe is being established after countless people have asked me how to financially help my father. Please know that I personally am the one managing my father's affairs for the foreseeable future and anything contributed will be managed properly. I cannot thank you enough for the support everyone has shown my family.
-Johnny
On February 14th my mother had a total hip replacement surgery. She had been looking forward to this surgery for months as her hip pain really affected her mobility in being able to spend time with her grandchildren and travel with my dad.
Outside of her hip pain, she was very healthy as she did not smoke, did not excessively drink or take any drugs. She managed chronic back pain for over 17 years, never complaining and never letting it slow her down.
(Fort Meyers Beach Vacation 2019)Everyone who knew my mother is just in complete shock that this has happened as she really was the most kind and caring person you could know.
(Mom with friends in 2018)When people meet me, they are often surprised to hear that my parents are both deaf. There were usually questions like, "What was that like growing up?" "Could you talk when you were a kid?" The reality was that it gave me and my brothers the opportunity to understand the deaf culture and community. My parents met at the Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD) in Fulton, Missouri. The deaf community loved my mother, she was passionate about being an advocate for issues that affected the deaf community.
(Mom, Dad, Sandy, May - lifelong friends from MSD)(Mom and my youngest daughter Hadleigh signing I Love You)Her greatest love were her grandchildren as she was so looking forward to being able to do more as she had been limited for the last year because of the hip pain.
(Mom with all the grandchildren in 2012)(My brother Dennis and his family on a cruise)(Mom with her granddaughter Elise at her high school graduation in 2018 and my grandfather/her father, Chuck who still survives.)We still do not know for sure what caused her death. She had her hip surgery on February 14, her birthday was on February 20th as she recovered from surgery. At first all seemed ok as she progressed. A few days post-op, she complained of being light-headed and dizzy and took blood pressure readings at home which were very low. On Monday, March 2 she had a follow up appointment with her hip doctor and she raised concerns about her dizziness and low blood pressure. She was told to contact her family physician. The next evening she died. Our family has requested an autopsy and we are waiting for those results to hopefully get some answers as to how this happened.
Fortunately I got to see my mom the Sunday after her birthday. My oldest daughter, Mackenzie made my mom homemade chocolate covered strawberries and I don't know why, but I thought I should try to take a photo of her opening her gift... The photo above ended up being the last photo we have of my mother which I am so grateful for. This is how I will remember my mother for the rest of my life. She was such a vibrant person and never let any challenges get her down.
Again, this GoFundMe is being established after countless people have asked me how to financially help my father. Please know that I personally am the one managing my father's affairs for the foreseeable future and anything contributed will be managed properly. I cannot thank you enough for the support everyone has shown my family.
-Johnny
Organizer
Johnny Eaker
Organizer
Columbia, MO