Eric Sterling

On Saturday, June 16, 2018, one precious man, Eric L. Sterling, died at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Eric "Spoon" "The Dipper" Sterling was born Sept. 12, 1951, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to L.C. and Sheletha Sterling. He was blessed with a big, loving family of nine brothers and four sisters.

After meeting the love of his life, Diana Sterling, Eric relocated to Southeast Missouri. He and Diana Sterling were married Oct. 10, 1980. He affectionately called her, "my wife." Eric himself brought about a big family of nine children.

Eric loved his family, along with fishing, dancing and, of course, the Chicago Cubs.

On May 14, 2011, Eric was happily baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was a member of the Cape Girardeau North Congregation. Eric loved his brothers and sisters. He enjoyed serving the true God Jehovah, and prayer was so important to him, as well as speaking to others about his faith. He, indeed, looked forward to the resurrection, as he longed to see his parents, his brother and sisters and grandson again.

In 2013 he retired from working at TG Missouri, a place he dearly loved, with many friends he loved and who loved him.

Eric is survived by his wife, Diana Sterling; children, Sherry Davis, Cassandra Wright-Sterling, Eric Wright, Teon Smith, Terra McKinney, Eric Brown, Tami Phiffer, Elliott Sterling, Ericka Sterling and Jaquayla Brown; brothers, Barrett, Don, Jeffery, Jeremiah and Kelvin, Duane and Mark; sisters, Helen Adams and Sheletha Maldonado; as well as a big host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, L.C. Sterling; mother, Sheletha Sterling; brother, Larry Sterling; sisters, Veronica Sterling and Renell Kyle; and also a grandson, Eric Armstead.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, with Roy LeBlanc officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.