Mary L. Eaton

Mary Eaton, 95, passed away on February 2, 2022 at Silvercrest at Collegeview in Lenexa, Kansas. Mary was born on March 13, 1926 in Valliant, OK. She graduated from Valiant High School and then Southeastern College in Durant, Oklahoma in1948.

Mary survived her mother, Ida Austin Whitfield and her father, John Grover Whitfield and her 7 siblings.

Mary married Mark Eaton on December 23, 1949 in Golden, Colorado. They were married 65 years.

Mary grew up in the dust bowl-depression era. Growing up on the family farm in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, she did tedious chores, as was expected of all her siblings to help support the family. She was president of her senior high school class and was voted senior queen at Southeastern. After graduating college, she rode the bus from Durant, Oklahoma to Golden, Colorado for her first teaching job at Mitchell Elementary School. It’s here in Golden where Mary and Mark met. Mark was a teacher and head football coach at Golden High School.

All that knew Mary were touched by her genuine good nature. She obtained great pleasure in helping others. Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be missed, but not forgotten.

Mary is survived by 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. Son Jeff Eaton and wife Patricia, Lenexa, KS; daughter Leslie Murray (Eaton) and her husband Patrick, Lenexa, KS; and daughter Jill Struck (Eaton) and her husband Tom, Overland Park, KS.

Grandchildren are: Jana Blanchette (Eaton) and her husband James, Sudbury, MA; Amy Kroeker (Eaton) and her husband John, Lenexa, KS; Jeffrey Eaton, Jr. and his wife Anne, Flagstaff, AZ; Jeffrey Murray and his wife Kay, Leawood, KS; Katie Dubin (Murray) and her husband Aaron, Prairie Village, KS; Quinn Struck and his wife Abby, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Samuel Struck and his wife Kimberly, Hubbardsville, NY.

Great grandchildren: Lauren Blanchette, Kelsey Blanchette, Drew Blanchette, Avery Kroeker, Carson Kroeker, Alex Kroeker, Kamrynn Murray, Kayden Murray, Jack Struck, Kaia Struck, Logan Struck, Abram Struck, Henry Struck, Miles Struck, Wyatt Eaton and Halle Dubin.

Mary will be buried next to her husband, Mark, at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Service and reception will begin at 1pm on February 11th at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO.