Lauris Martin Eek, Jr.
September 23, 1925 ~ January 11, 2020
Lauris Martin Eek, Jr.
COL U.S. Army (Ret)
COL Lauris M. Eek, Jr. of Vienna, VA, died peacefully Saturday, January 11, 2020 in Fort Belvoir, VA. He was born September 23, 1925 in Maryville MO the elder son of COL Lauris Martin Eek and Donna Sisson Eek. His family moved to Rockford, IL where he and his younger brother Nathaniel (Nat) spent their childhood years. In 1939, after they returned to Maryville, Lauris began high school, but soon transferred to Morgan Park Military Academy, Chicago, IL, graduating in 1942. Following MPMA, he did post-grad work at the high school level and subsequently entered Morgan Park Junior College. During the post-grad period he organized and led a Drum and Bugle Corps, played a saxophone and drums with the local high school and MPMA band and formed his own dance band in Maryville. At 17 he was sworn into the US Army Air Corps Enlisted Reserve by his father. He was called to active duty February 1943 as an air cadet trainee and, did not put aside his uniform until his retirement in 1980.
Lauris was assigned to a variety of duties at domestic air bases until the end of WWII when he enlisted in the regular air corp. In June 1946 he earned a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, as a member of the Class of 1950. During his cadet years, he greatly enjoyed competing on the Cadet Pistol team where he garnered numerous awards and citations for excellence. He was also an avid and accomplished photographer, a hobby which served as excellent support in later years as he worked on class of ’50 yearbooks. While at the Academy, he took special pride in presenting a bugle used by his grandfather, Nathaniel Sisson, to sound the final bugle signals for the North at the battle of Appomattox, ending the Civil War. Five weeks after his graduation from the USMA, Lauris was ordered to Korea, joining the 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division as the platoon leader in Company C. His last assignment in Korea was as assistant to the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Div.
Upon returning from Korea, he courted and married Jean Lowrey of Blue Mountain, MS in 1952. They then began a life enjoying numerous duty assignments while adding to their family and sharing their love of the United States with their young children. From 1952 to 1980, Lauris was deployed to the following: Ft Knox, KY; Germany (birthplace of his son Lauris M. Eek III); Ft Knox (birthplace of his daughter Donna Veeve); West Point, NY (birthplace of his daughter Jeanne Lawrence); Ft Leavenworth, KS where he was a student at the Command & General Staff College; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI where he earned his MS in Engineering; Ft Greely, AK; Ft Hood, TX where he commanded 2nd Battalion, 13th Armor; Carlisle Barracks, PA for the US Army War College; Korea where he commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd infantry Division; and, Washington DC where he held various positions concluding his Army career as Chief, Project Management, HQ US Army Material Command.
Although each post provided its uniquely memorable experiences, one had special personal memories. After promotion to Major, he was assigned to Ft Leavenworth, KS, a post close to his Maryville, MO home. During that time, he petitioned for the degrees and was raised to a Master Mason in Nodaway Lodge #470, AF&AM, the home lodge of both his father and grandfather. In 1994, his son, Lauris III, also became a member here; thus, completing four generations in the same Lodge.
Lauris retired June 1980 following 37 years of military service. His military awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge. He also wore the Army General Staff Identification Badge for his service at the Pentagon.
Retirement from the Army did not mean that Lauris rested. Choosing to remain in Vienna, VA from which he’d commuted to the Pentagon, he accepted a position at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as Data Manager. He remained at SAIC for six years, retiring to devote himself more fully to work with Vienna Baptist Church. He served 26 years on the Aural Systems Committee, Chairman of the Diaconate for a year and as Moderator of the congregation for over 18 years. In 1985 he was elected to chair the Building Committee and lead final planning and construction of a new addition to and major renovation of the existing church buildings. In addition to serving on many church associated committees and councils over the years, in 1995, Lauris was elected to a three-year term as a Director representing Virginia on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of the Baptists. Following the death of his first wife in 1992, Lauris married Dorothy Deane Poppe in 1995 and the two of them greatly enjoyed both domestic and foreign travel.
Throughout his life, Lauris took great pleasure in joining and participating actively in numerous organizations and associations ranging in scope from the Masons to his USMA class of ’50 alumni. He was a self-avowed “car nut” and took great pleasure in the maintenance, rebuilding and driving of his cars, and helping others care for theirs. He lived life with great enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his youngest daughter, Jeanne Lawrence Eek; son-in-law Dennis E. McMillen and two grandchildren, Denise Veeve Canton and Timothy Martin McMillen; his stepdaughter Judith A. Smith and her two children, Nicole and Ryan.
The funeral will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020 at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 2:00 pm. A reception will follow. A subsequent interment with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions are invited to Vienna Baptist Church.
COL U.S. Army (Ret)
COL Lauris M. Eek, Jr. of Vienna, VA, died peacefully Saturday, January 11, 2020 in Fort Belvoir, VA. He was born September 23, 1925 in Maryville MO the elder son of COL Lauris Martin Eek and Donna Sisson Eek. His family moved to Rockford, IL where he and his younger brother Nathaniel (Nat) spent their childhood years. In 1939, after they returned to Maryville, Lauris began high school, but soon transferred to Morgan Park Military Academy, Chicago, IL, graduating in 1942. Following MPMA, he did post-grad work at the high school level and subsequently entered Morgan Park Junior College. During the post-grad period he organized and led a Drum and Bugle Corps, played a saxophone and drums with the local high school and MPMA band and formed his own dance band in Maryville. At 17 he was sworn into the US Army Air Corps Enlisted Reserve by his father. He was called to active duty February 1943 as an air cadet trainee and, did not put aside his uniform until his retirement in 1980.
Lauris was assigned to a variety of duties at domestic air bases until the end of WWII when he enlisted in the regular air corp. In June 1946 he earned a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, as a member of the Class of 1950. During his cadet years, he greatly enjoyed competing on the Cadet Pistol team where he garnered numerous awards and citations for excellence. He was also an avid and accomplished photographer, a hobby which served as excellent support in later years as he worked on class of ’50 yearbooks. While at the Academy, he took special pride in presenting a bugle used by his grandfather, Nathaniel Sisson, to sound the final bugle signals for the North at the battle of Appomattox, ending the Civil War. Five weeks after his graduation from the USMA, Lauris was ordered to Korea, joining the 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division as the platoon leader in Company C. His last assignment in Korea was as assistant to the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Div.
Upon returning from Korea, he courted and married Jean Lowrey of Blue Mountain, MS in 1952. They then began a life enjoying numerous duty assignments while adding to their family and sharing their love of the United States with their young children. From 1952 to 1980, Lauris was deployed to the following: Ft Knox, KY; Germany (birthplace of his son Lauris M. Eek III); Ft Knox (birthplace of his daughter Donna Veeve); West Point, NY (birthplace of his daughter Jeanne Lawrence); Ft Leavenworth, KS where he was a student at the Command & General Staff College; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI where he earned his MS in Engineering; Ft Greely, AK; Ft Hood, TX where he commanded 2nd Battalion, 13th Armor; Carlisle Barracks, PA for the US Army War College; Korea where he commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd infantry Division; and, Washington DC where he held various positions concluding his Army career as Chief, Project Management, HQ US Army Material Command.
Although each post provided its uniquely memorable experiences, one had special personal memories. After promotion to Major, he was assigned to Ft Leavenworth, KS, a post close to his Maryville, MO home. During that time, he petitioned for the degrees and was raised to a Master Mason in Nodaway Lodge #470, AF&AM, the home lodge of both his father and grandfather. In 1994, his son, Lauris III, also became a member here; thus, completing four generations in the same Lodge.
Lauris retired June 1980 following 37 years of military service. His military awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge. He also wore the Army General Staff Identification Badge for his service at the Pentagon.
Retirement from the Army did not mean that Lauris rested. Choosing to remain in Vienna, VA from which he’d commuted to the Pentagon, he accepted a position at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as Data Manager. He remained at SAIC for six years, retiring to devote himself more fully to work with Vienna Baptist Church. He served 26 years on the Aural Systems Committee, Chairman of the Diaconate for a year and as Moderator of the congregation for over 18 years. In 1985 he was elected to chair the Building Committee and lead final planning and construction of a new addition to and major renovation of the existing church buildings. In addition to serving on many church associated committees and councils over the years, in 1995, Lauris was elected to a three-year term as a Director representing Virginia on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of the Baptists. Following the death of his first wife in 1992, Lauris married Dorothy Deane Poppe in 1995 and the two of them greatly enjoyed both domestic and foreign travel.
Throughout his life, Lauris took great pleasure in joining and participating actively in numerous organizations and associations ranging in scope from the Masons to his USMA class of ’50 alumni. He was a self-avowed “car nut” and took great pleasure in the maintenance, rebuilding and driving of his cars, and helping others care for theirs. He lived life with great enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his youngest daughter, Jeanne Lawrence Eek; son-in-law Dennis E. McMillen and two grandchildren, Denise Veeve Canton and Timothy Martin McMillen; his stepdaughter Judith A. Smith and her two children, Nicole and Ryan.
The funeral will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020 at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 2:00 pm. A reception will follow. A subsequent interment with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions are invited to Vienna Baptist Church.
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