Gerald ""Gary Mardel Eaton

Gerald Mardel Eaton, 90, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska died Monday, December 22, 2008 at Golden Living Center of Scottsbluff. A memorial celebration of Gary’s life will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael Stein officiating. Military honors by the Nebraska National Guard. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory and inurnment will be at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport. Gary was born August 18, 1918, in Alliance, Nebraska, to Carn Glenn and Hattie (Pyle) Eaton. He graduated in 1938 from Alliance High School. On September 22, 1940, in the First Baptist Church, Alliance, Nebraska, Gary was united in marriage to Etta Louise Stryson of Alliance, Nebraska. They lived in Laramie, Wyoming, where he worked at the airport as an airplane mechanic. Some of the planes he flew were Piper Cubs and Aronicas. In 1941, he was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Roberts, California for infantry training. After he received his orders for overseas duty, while walking to the barracks, he noticed a sign stating, “The Air Corps Needs You.” He inquired about joining the Army Air Corps 9now called the Air Force) and since he had flying and aircraft mechanics experience, he was transferred to the Air Corp. He received training in Harlingen and Marfa, Texas, and flew the AT6 and C-47 transport. Gary was presented his wings and became a commissioned flight officer. His last flight in a C-47 was a the air base in Alliance, Nebraska, which was quite a tribute for a local boy. He was honorably discharged from the Air Corp in Denver, Colorado on October 20, 1945. Louise traveled with Gary while he was in the service. After the service, Gary worked in Alliance for three years for Pepsi-Cola. In 1948, Pepsi moved Gary and Louise to Scottsbluff where Gary managed the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. When the bottling company in Scottsbluff closed he went to work for Tom Haiston at Haiston Oil Co. as their bookkeeper until his retirement. Gary enjoyed hunting and fishing and he and Louise loved to go camping with their RV with family and friends. Gary was well known for how immaculate he maintained his cars, tools, lawn equipment, lawn, guns, and all other things involved in maintaining a home. Gary was always eager to help someone in any way he could and always had a friendly ear and smile on his face. We will miss him and Louise dearly. Survivors include his sister, Devona Hungerford and companion, Ben Garvin of Crawford, Nebraska; brother, Adrian (Gladys) Eaton of Loveland, Colorado and sister-in-law, Pauline Musgrove of North Platte, Nebraska; Gary and Louise’s Godson, Justin Graham of Lincoln.; nephews, Don (Kathy) Graham of Scottsbluff and family, Maegen Graham of Omaha, Nebraska, Chris (Stacy) and Colton Graham of Lincoln, Nebraska and Justin Graham of Lincoln, Nebraska; Larry (Cheryl) Graham of Lincoln, Nebraska and family John (Adrian) Graham of Denver, Colorado and Erica Graham of Lincoln, Nebraska; LeRoy (Roy) (Barbara) Stryson and son Eric Stryson of Vista, California; Rick Hungerford of Chadron and family, Mark Hungerford of Laramie, Wyoming, and Michael Hungerford of Huntington, California; Timothy Eaton and daughter, Hannah, of Loveland, Colorado; nieces, Linda Anderson of North Platte, Nebraska; Loydele (Wes) Kehler and Brenda Kehler of Mission Viejo, California; Stacy Eaton and son, Tyler of Severence, Colorado; Alisa (Brad) Seiter of Gering, Nebraska; Julie (Ron) Maynard and family, Cole and Quinn of Helena, Montana; and Twila Meadows of Madrid, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Louise, on December 9, 2008; his parents, step sister, Maudie Moller, brother-in-law, Bob Hungerford, brother-in-law, Harland LeRoy Stryson and his wives, Doris and Elsie, sister-in-law, Ruth Lorraine (Stryson) (Graham) Foltz and her husbands, Bruce Graham and Jimmie Foltz and brothers-in-law, Earle Ritner and Don Musgrove.