Tennessee, passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021. Born
February 27, 1967 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was the son
of the late Edward Lee (Sonny) VanMeter and Sharon L. Stone.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loyal
furbaby, Buddee, a beautiful Chow mix that John rescued on a
fishing trip.
He is survived by his sisters Lynn Beth Stone and Jill Renee
Napier; Wilma Kennedy (aunt), Ed Kennedy (cousin), Anita
Bess-Smart (cousin); Bernard Sharp (Brenda) (cousin), Jack (Retha) Stone (uncle), David Stone
(cousin), Nellie Treadway (aunt) and many other loving cousins
including Becky Wood (Bruce), Karen Bainer (Steve), Fonda
Shockey (Raymond) and Jeff Canterbury (Sandy).
A Celebration of Life service will take place at Gum Springs
Church in Chimney Corner, WV on Saturday, August 7, at 1
p.m. Family will receive friends and visitors one hour prior to
the service. Burial will follow at the Fayetteville Huse
Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayetteville, WV.
John grew up in McAlester, Oklahoma and graduated from
McAlester High School in 1985.
With such love of history he earned his AA in History from
Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Oklahoma.
Additionally, he earned a BA from West Virginia University of
Morgantown and currently on track to earn a BA in Ancient Art
with Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee.
John, having never met a stranger, had the biggest heart and
showered everyone with love. He extended his love to any and
every person that came into his home, wanting his home filled
with love, joy, and laughter.
He was a dedicated brother; finding joy and inspiration in
fishing, watercolor painting, cooking delicious food, listening to
music and attending concerts. While John battled many
complications as the result of diabetes, his love and spirit never
waivered. Most of all, he was an exceptional son, brother, cousin
and friend; always sacrificing his time to care for others.
John also enjoyed his walks daily with his fur nephew Simon
Winston Stone and fur neice, Destiny Marie Napier. Upon those
walks, John often spoke of being in tune with nature and that his
love for the woods and mountains always seemed to call his
name. He was not a city boy in any way - although he did enjoy
going to the Opera and more modern theatre in Nashville,
Tennessee with his sisters and friends (Eric Brawner and Alan
Cantrell).
John’s love of reading was apparent in the many, many, many
books he had in his home. In his later years, John enjoyed
watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks and would try
his hand at cooking. He always made sure he cooked his sister,
Lynn Beth, steak just the way she liked it and she always
commented that it was so much better than she could get at a 5
star steak house.
And, he would make sure his sister Jill had a coffee maker once
COVID began and she was working from home. He commented
to her that just because the world had stopped that it was no
reason that she would need to stop drinking her coffee.
These are just a few things that showed how much John was in
tune with his sisters and his love for them.
PALLBEARERS
Jeff CanterburyHonorary
Ed KennedyHonorary
Bernard SharpHonorary
Luke Gilliam Honorary
Eric BrawnerHonorary
Jack StoneHonorary
Kevin Lamberth,Honorary
Alan CantrellHonorary
David StoneHonorary
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