Mr. Gerald Wayne Eakle

Gerald Wayne Eakle was born on December 6, 1940 at home on the Eakle farm in Quinton, Oklahoma. His parents were John Carl Eakle and Edith Mae Gray Eakle. Gerald was raised on their farm outside of Quinton, Oklahoma. He was raised in a home where their faith in God was central to their lives. Gerald also has an older brother Charles Leland.

Gerald attended school at the Russellville Elementary School and then went to Quinton High School where he graduated in 1958. He attended Eastern Oklahoma Junior College and Drawn’s Business School and then completed a Bachelors of Science in education from Oklahoma State University. One of Gerald’s favorite memories while at OSU was being on a bowling team with his cousin Jerry Eakle and winning the league championship. He completed his Masters in Education from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Gerald always had a drive to keep learning and attended many different universities throughout his life totaling 400 academic hours. Other schools he attended for academic learning were University of Tulsa, Saint Louis University, Washington University of Saint Louis and University of Missouri Rolla.

Gerald moved to Saint Louis as he began his teaching career at the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River—Central High School. Saint Louis is where he met Ruth Marie Sutton. Gerald and Ruth were married on October 28, 1967 at Third Baptist Church of Saint Louis. Gerald enjoyed playing chess and checkers with his soon to be father-in-law, Charles Sutton. When he asked for Ruth’s hand in marriage Mr. Sutton played him a game of checkers. Gerald lost but won the love of his life.

Gerald had many experiences while in Saint Louis. He witnessed the completion of the Gateway Arch and worked several jobs to supplement his teaching salary. He drove a taxi cab, worked as a night watchman at a can factory and worked on the cleaning crew for a mattress factory. He also had his two sons, John and David, while in Saint Louis.

Gerald and Ruth moved back to Quinton in 1972 with their new family where he began teaching at Quinton High School and bought a farm to raise cattle while also helping with his parents’ farm. Gerald and Ruth both retired in 2004. Gerald completed 40 years of teaching math and some science. He was certified by the State of Oklahoma to teach in all secondary science and math along with computers. He began teaching computers on Apple IIe computers as a before school class.

Gerald and Ruth had moved to a farm outside of Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1992 and moved his mother Edith there to care for her. Gerald and Ruth provided for his mother as she battled Altzheimer’s Disease for several years. After Edith Eakle passed in 2001 and Gerald retired in 2004, he turned his energy to ministries through the church. He was involved with the Saturday Morning Men’s Prayer group and the prison ministry. It also must be mentioned that Gerald really enjoyed bargain shopping with his coupons. It became a hobby whether it was shopping for groceries or finding deals at the salvage yard in Muskogee. Gerald also enjoyed taking walks with his dogs and naps with Smokey Joe his cat.

Gerald began working with the Prison Ministry at First Baptist Church in Muskogee in 2004 and the next year Ruth was able to join him. They continued with this ministry for 6 years and developed many lasting friendships during this time. Gerald was awarded the Volunteer of the Year in 2006 from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. He really had a heart for this ministry and the people became a large part of his life.

Gerald was raised in a family where his faith in God was central. He was a member of West Liberty Baptist Church Quinton, Third Baptist Church Saint Louis, Tower Grove Baptist Church Saint Louis, Oldham Memorial Baptist Church Muskogee and First Baptist Church Muskogee. Gerald was attending church with his son, David the last 3 years of his life at Prestonwood Baptist Church. He was always faithful to attend and set that example for his family and others.

Gerald and Ruth moved to Little Elm, Texas in August of 2017 where they currently reside. He enjoyed 52 years of marriage to his wife Ruth Eakle. Gerald passed away on May 2, 2020 at 79 years of age early Saturday morning peacefully in his sleep.

Gerald will be remembered by family and friends as a compassionate man who found friends in everyone he met. He had a good sense of humor that carried him through the hardships in life and endeared him to those that would come to know him.

Date and times for the Funeral Service and Interment will be announced at a later date.