JOHN GERALD FEASTER

FEASTER,
JOHN GERALD, Ph.D.
Dr. Feaster was born in the family home in Shiloh, Florida on August 3, 1942 and passed away on April 24, 2017. He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob Lynn Sr. and Gladys Abraham Feaster and a brother Marion Feaster and sister Lynette Feaster Hannah.
Gerald graduated from North Marion High School and received a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from the University of Florida. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He went on to receive his Doctorate Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Feaster worked with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Foreign Agriculture Service in Washington D.C. and served as the Assistant Agricultural Attache in Cairo, Egypt. He also worked in South and Central America and South Africa providing support for agricultural products with sustainable production and marketing for rural areas. He worked on agricultural research in Belize and Bogota, Colombia, South America. At the time of his death, Dr. Feaster was the Director of Kenaf USA. He worked with the development of Kenaf, a natural fiber product, which could be used for buildings and other earth friendly products.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Frances (Becky) Lee Feaster, loving daughter and son: Dr. Lina Lee Feaster-Peterson (Eric) of St. Augustine FL, and John Charles Feaster (Jane) of Tampa FL, his grandchildren, Saffron Rose and Cyrus Atom Peterson and Elaine Frances and Andrew John Feaster who he enjoyed working and playing with on the family farm and building various projects. Two brothers also survive, Jacob Lynn Jr. (Annette) and Jerome (Pat) Feaster and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at the Shiloh Methodist Church at 11:00 on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Family visitation and viewing will be one hour prior to the service at the Church and interment will be at the Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made in Gerald's memory to the Shiloh United Methodist Church (UMC) Children's Home Fund. 10650 N.W. Highway 320, Micanopy, FL 32667.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Gainesville, FL.