The Richmond News, Jan. 12, 2024

Peggy Eaton

Peggy A. Eaton, age 83, Carl Junction, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, at Freeman West Hospital with family at her side. Peggy was born Dec. 23, 1940, in Kansas City, the daughter of the late Orville G. Clark and Lucille G. (Gaiser) Clark, growing up in Richmond and graduating from Richmond High School. Peggy lived 55 years in the Joplin tri-state area, where she knew so many people you couldn’t go anywhere in town without running into someone she knew or whose life she had impacted in a positive way.

Peggy loved international travel, working outside in the yard and just plain ’ole “getting dirty.”

She was a big fan of Route 66 and the movie “Cars.” She was an avid photographer, loved sitting by a fire, attending auctions, flea markets and collecting the many treasures she had acquired through those activities in a lifetime of fulfilling pastimes and memories.

In her lifetime, Peggy attended William Woods University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Pittsburg (Kan.) State University, earning a master’s degree and an EDS degree, becoming a licensed practical counselor. Peggy built her own private practice and worked the majority of her professional career at Joplin’s College Skyline Center.

In addition to her work at College Skyline Center, Peggy engaged in volunteer work. In particular, Peggy was involved in trauma work related to natural disasters and unexpected events. She volunteered for the American Red Cross and assisted in counseling services offered to victims of the Joplin tornado in 2011.

More recently, Peggy continued her emotional philanthropy and support of the people of the community through her volunteer work at Messenger Towers and Gentiva Hospice, documenting and writing the life’s stories for the families of those in Gentiva Hospice care.

Peggy’s further volunteer work included sponsoring and fostering dogs, and collecting newspapers for, and donating papers and other items to the Joplin Humane Society.

She also was known to enjoy her boxed wine. Peggy is loved by many and will be greatly missed by those who knew her.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice F. Eaton; and long-time canine companion, “Mr. Beasely.”

Survivors include her children, Jennifer Newton of Carl Junction, Lesley Newton of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Jeffrey Newton and wife Yanira of Chula Vista, Calif.; two grandchildren, Sebastian Newton and Alex Valencia, also of Chula Vista.

A memorial service was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel, with J.T. Knoll officiating. The family was scheduled to receive friends 1-3 p.m. Thursday at Parker Mortuary prior to the service.

Graveside services will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 13, at Richmond Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made on behalf of Peggy Eaton to the Joplin Humane Society, care of Parker Mortuary.