Ivan Leon Eaton, Sr.

Ivan “Leon” Eaton, Sr., 88, of Bonne Terre passed away February 16, 2018. He was born March 25, 1929 in Bonne Terre to the late Irvin Wesley Eaton and Elsie Myrtine (Richardson) Eaton. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Anna (Nelson) Eaton; two brothers, Irvin Leroy (infant) and Olan Wayne Eaton.

Survived by his children, Elaine Ann Manieri of Kansas City, MO, Wesley Robert Eaton of Belgrade, MO, Ivan Leon Eaton, Jr. of French Village, MO, Philip Nelson Eaton of Conroe, TX; grandchildren, Daniel Eaton, Michael Eaton, Wesley Eaton, Jr., Anna Eaton-Jenneman, Samantha Eaton, Paige Manieri and Rachel Manieri; great grandchildren, Lydia and Lillian Eaton (Daniel’s daughters), Stella Eaton-Jenneman (Anna’s daughter) and Adriel Eaton (Wesley, Jr’s daughter); precious friends, Jenny Yanez, Richard Bouchard and the Thomas Family: Eddie, Tracy, Darren and Ashley.

When Leon was a baby his family moved to New Jersey in 1931, where his dad (Irvin) worked for the St. Joseph Lead Company in NY, NY. Leon and Wayne attended school in New Jersey until 1945. His family moved back to the Bonne Terre area where the boys finished their schooling at Desloge High School.

Leon enlisted in the Marines and served during the Korean conflict.  He was honorably discharged in 1952 as the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Second Marine Air Wing stationed in Cherry Point, NC.

Leon married Anna Nelson in the summer 1957 in the middle of a torrential downpour.  Even their wedding singer got swept away in a nearby flooded creek, but that didn’t stop the wedding! He and Anna moved to a cabin in the country with only a stove and a “path”.  The couple kept busy raising their children for many years in the Bonne Terre area.  Later, as “empty nesters” Leon and Anna spent quite a few years in the Great Southwest before retiring to Terre Du Lac in 1991. 

Leon spent 40 years as a business owner, entrepreneur and general manager working in the automotive industry.  He was committed to making his community a better place to work and live, serving on the Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Savings and Loan. Leon’s career took him from St. Louis to Bonne Terre to El Paso, TX and lastly to Albuquerque, NM.

 Leon loved cars, especially ones from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  He loved big, stylized cars.  He said all of the cars today looked like “cereal boxes”.  Flying small aircraft was another one of Leon’s passions.  He got a thrill out of ferrying friends, family and business associates around and giving them a “ride they will never forget”. 

Leon’s greatest love, apart from his beloved family and friends, was music.  He was an accomplished guitar player, starting in 1939 when his dad bought him his first guitar. He played with one of the Big Bands in NY, NY when he was only 12 years old.  Locally, Leon played everywhere from honky-tonks to churches to nursing homes.  He was happiest when he was jamming with Darren Thomas and/or Richard Bouchard with Jenny Yanez singing along.  Leon is the last of the original Westerners (Some of you old-timers will remember that band). One of the highlights of Leon’s music career was when he and Darren got the opportunity to jam with one of his guitar heroes, Tommy Emmanuel, a couple of years ago.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, February 25, from 1-4pm CT at The Benham Street Grille, 803 Benham Street, Bonne Terre, MO. In lieu of flowers, Leon would like for you to give to your favorite charity or to Serenity Hospice (serenityhc.org/ 5272 Flat River Rd, Park Hills MO 63601). View obituary and share condolences online at www.www.czboyer.com