Jim Eaton

Jim Eaton, 91, died June 3rd at Wesley Court nursing facility in Abilene. He was born September 3, 1923, to Austin and Hattie Eaton. His happy rural childhood was spent in Peacock, TX. Jim enlisted in the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and spent four years in the Naval Air Corps flying lighter-than-air dirigibles. His mission was to patrol the Gulf of Mexico for enemy submarine activity in Panama. Jim was married to Margie Featherston in 1947 while attending what was then McMurry College as a third-year student. He received his master’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) in 1951. Jim worked for the Abilene Reporter News for 35 years. He served on the editorial staff in various capacities from courthouse reporter to oil editor. Most important in Jim’s life were his family and his God. He had the heart of a servant, serving many years in First Christian Church of Abilene, the Lake Coleman Volunteer Fire Department, and numerous other organizations. Surviving Jim are his wife Margie Eaton and three sons, Chuck Eaton and wife Amy of Lubbock, Kent Eaton and wife Vickie of Houston, Lee Eaton and wife Kay of Royse City, and daughter-in-law Paula Eaton of Abilene. Grandchildren had a special place in Jim’s heart. Brent (Jordan) Eaton and Adam Eaton – Lindsey Eaton, Kevin Eaton, and Allison Eaton – Stephen Eaton, Luke (Natalie) Eaton, and Matt Eaton--Loren Eaton and Taylor McMillan (Ben). Great-grandchildren are Raleigh and Kai McMillan. A niece, Cindy Thompson, also survives Jim. Jim had two precious deceased children to fill his heart, Randy Eaton and Shara Lynn Westerman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your support to Gideons International Donor Service at www.gideons.org. / 615 564-5000 A graveside service will be held in Elmwood Memorial Park on Saturday, June 6th at 10:00 a.m. directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. A memorial service will be held in the Atrium at Wesley Court, 2617 Antilley Road, on Saturday, June 6th at 2:30 p.m. officiated by Dr. Don Wilson.