Frances A. Eaton

Frances A. Eaton

Frances Asbury Eaton, 87, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, July 17, 2012, surrounded by family and the loving staff at Mountain View Manor in Eureka.

Frances was born in Anaconda, Mont., to Dr. Benton and Mary Asbury on Nov. 3, 1924. She joined her brother, Dr. William Asbury, and was followed by her sister Ruth and brother Benton. Frances spent her youth in the Bozeman and Anaconda area and attended nursing school at Montana State University. After becoming a registered nurse and while working at the university she was sent to check on an ill student in his dorm room.  He had been wounded in a battle in World Ward II and eventually she married Garrett Chance Eaton on Dec. 21, 1946.

Garrett and Frances were blessed with five children: Chance, Gary, Craig, Chelli and Lori. She had a special place in her heart for her 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and her many friends.

Garrett and Frances were both well respected members of all the communities lived in.  Frances was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eureka, a volunteer with the American Red Cross and organized the local blood drive for more than 20 dedicated years.  She was also involved with the local Girl Scouts for many years and loved to play cribbage and bridge with family and friends.  Frances spent her life doing many things for others and was well known as a nurse, Girl Scout leader, seamstress, and owner of Re-Do-It Upholstery.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, husband Garrett and brother Bill.

She is survived by her sister Ruth Rogers of Sonoma, Calif.; brother Benton Asbury of Bozeman; sister-in-law Nancy Asbury of Bridger;

Son Chance and wife Terry Eaton of Glendale, Ariz., their son John Eaton of Las Vegas, Nev., and their daughter Tracy and husband David Irwin of San Antonio, Texas, son Kirk, daughter Aubrey and husband Josiah Solberg of Irvine, Calif.;

Son Gary and wife Letty Eaton of Pocatello, Idaho, and their children Marsha and husband Jeff Wykoff of Pocatello and their children Keith, Trinity and Joshua; son Steve and wife Karrie Eaton of Belgrade, Mont., and their daughters Kacie, Hazel and Arin; daughter Alysa and husband Dustin Semans of Helena and their sons Nathaniel and Patrick; son Richie West-Eaton of Helena and son Lane; daughter Joanna West-Eaton of Helena and her children Juan and Isabella;, son James West-Eaton of Pocatello, Idaho and his son Kayden;

Son Craig and wife Wendy Eaton of Eureka, their daughter Becky and husband Josh Stillo of Kalispell and daughters Abby and Ava; and son Christopher Eaton of Bozeman;

Daughter Chelli Gentry of Des Moines, Iowa and her sons Jayson and wife Rachael Gentry, Valdosta, Ga., and daughter Ava; and James and wife Erica Gentry of Des Moines, Iowa, and sons Kaden and Jameson;

Daughter Lori and husband Tom Rager of Sevierville, Tenn. and children Michelle, Christina and Jonathan.

Frances was well loved as a resident of Mountain View Manor for the past year and was affectionately known as Franie.  The care and love shown by the staff and residents was a blessing to her and a comfort to her family.

Memorials may be made to Mountain View Manor in Frances’s honor or the donor’s choice.

Services were held July 20, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Eureka, followed by interment at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka.