Eloise Tabor Eakins

Eloise (Elly) Tabor Eakins, 100, of Longmont, CO, passed from this life July 9, 2021. She was born March 22, 1921 to John and Alice Tabor (Allaby), in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The following year, she and her parents moved to Glendive, Montana where she spent her K-12 years. At the age of seven, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States and would often mention that she “would never be able to be president of the US” since she was not born in this country… but her children could. She was the only child for nine years until brother Herrett and sister Pauline arrived. She was an avid reader and had a gift for public speaking and writing, composing numerous poems throughout her lifetime. Elly was always active in church, attending the United Brethren and later the United Methodist Church. She long had the desire to work in the ministry and, with much persuasion, was able to convince her parents to allow her to attend York College in York, Nebraska, where she graduated with a major in English and minor in Public Speaking. After graduation, her plan was to attend seminary, but WWII intervened and she answered the call of her country instead and enlisted in the Coast Guard Woman’s Reserve, SPARS (Semper Paratus, Always Ready). While in the Service, she became engaged to Lora Robert (Bob) Holbrook, a York College classmate who was in the Army and soon to be sent overseas. On Feb. 24, 1944, they were both able to get leave and were married in Chicago, IL.

After the war they returned to York, NE for Bob to finish college. As with so many that returned from the war, they were eager to start a family and their first child, Gerald Wayne, was born. They then moved on to Dayton, Ohio for Bob to attend three years of seminary. It was in Dayton that Jeanne Marie joined the family and they suffered the loss of Elizabeth Ruth who died at 3 days old. They returned to Nebraska and lived in Elba (Barbara Laurie born), Hoskins (Andrew Keith born), Scotia (Patricia Jo born), DuBois, Lincoln and Ainsworth during which time Elly often taught Jr. & Sr. High English and Speech. While in Ainsworth, her marriage to Bob ended and she moved to North Bend, NE for a teaching job. It was at this time her desire to go into the ministry was rekindled and she started preaching as a lay minister.

Two years later she was in Kansas City, MO studying at St. Paul School of Theology where she received the seminary degree of Master of Divinity in 1977 and was ordained in the Kansas East conference.

While in seminary, she was working as a lay minister in Vassar, KS where she met and married John Waldo Tillman in 1974. John brought Kathy, Bill (d.2018) and Karla to the marriage. She then served churches in Perry, Lawrence and Pittsburg, KS. She and John enjoyed 14 years together before he died in 1988 of cancer.

Elly had lived in the hot, humid climes of Montana, Nebraska and Kansas and thought it time to move to a state with cooler weather. She had always enjoyed Colorado, and in 1989 she retired and moved to Longmont. She never imagined she would marry again but in 1993, she met and married Dr. Roger Franklin Eakins and moved to Denver. Roger brought Carol, Jan (d. 2020) and Frank to the marriage. She enjoyed 15 years with Roger before he passed away in 2008.

She loved to travel and enjoyed many educational trips with Elderhostel including the Holy Land and the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. She also traveled to the Caribbean, Alaska, British Isles, Europe, Hawai’i, Canada, not to mention many places in the U.S.

After Roger passed away, she left their home in Denver to move into Hover Independent Living in Longmont. She loved living there and soon became known as “the hugger”. Everyone knew that if they needed a hug, she would gladly give it. She lived there happily until the Pandemic started and had to move into Beatrice Hover Assisted Living at the age of 99. It was difficult for her living in such isolation, but the wonderful caregivers did their best to ease the loneliness. In March of this year, she moved into full care at the Katherine and Charles Hover Green Houses. It is with deepest gratitude the family thanks the wonderful staff for providing such loving care as Elly traveled on her final journey.

She leaves behind many who loved her - Gerald W. Holbrook (Gary), Jeanne M. Skybrook, Barbara L. Muenchau, Andrew K. Holbrook (Lynn), Patricia J Terpstra (Dan)

Tillman’s - Kathy Pingleton (Phil), Karla Porter

Eakins - Carol Kurent, Frank Eakins (Janice)

Numerous Grandchildren and Great Grand-children

A family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Interment at Fort Logan on August 16th with Coast Guard military honors. Memorial Contributions may be made to UMCOR Disaster Relief (Heart of Longmont United Methodist Church, 350 11th Ave, Longmont, CO 80501) or Katherine and Charles Hover Green Houses (1425 Belmont Dr, Longmont CO 80503)