Kathleen Inez Lawson Eaton

Kathleen Inez Lawson Eaton was born June 5, 1922 in Woodbine, KY to Lily Mae Messer Lawson and Benjamin Hardin Lawson and passed away on October 17, 2015.  She was the youngest of four girls: Margaret, Maxine, Maureen and big sister to brother Robert (all of whom preceded her in death).  Kathleen married Sam Eaton Jr. during WWII and after the war moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she began nursing school.  She nearly completed training when Sam was called up from the Navy Reserves to the Korean Conflict.  Kathleen and their daughter Sandra Kaye Eaton moved back to Woodbine where they lived with the Lawson's until Sam was discharged from the Navy.
Upon their return to the Cincinnati area, she and her husband began a long and productive journey buying and refurbishing older homes.  Kathleen was very creative with an excellent eye for design and completed a certificate program from the Chicago School of Interior Decoration.  Their homes were always beautifully and thoughtfully decorated.  Among Kathleen's many skills were refinishing and upholstering furniture. She was able to take some courses in upholstery and acquired additional skills through books and magazines.  She was an excellent researcher and always said, "If you take the time and have the patience, you can learn to do anything." This was a hobby she and her husband both enjoyed and together they restored eight homes in thirteen years.  The last home they worked together on is in the National Register of Historic Homes in Norwood, Ohio.
While she was not able to finish her formal training as a nurse, Kathleen was always a student of health at heart and through research, meetings  and voracious reading, she was aware early in her adulthood of the importance of healthful food choices. She was always ahead of the times in her quest to know as much as possible about good health for herself and her family. She walked at least a mile every day, and she happily shared what she had learned.
After Kathleen was widowed, she moved from Cincinnati back to Corbin, KY.  where she enjoyed living in Chapel House. She was able to spend a great deal of time with her sister, Maxine Sutton, who was also a resident. Kathleen enjoyed going to church at the Christian Health Center and appreciated the ministers and preachers from different churches who came each week to share their message. She was especially moved by Holy Week when Chapel House residents were taken to a different church every day.  She enjoyed seeing the different churches and hearing their messages.
Thanksgiving was a big treat for Kathleen and she enjoyed working throughout the year to prepare for the large family gathering at Cumberland Falls. For almost 20 years, family from all over the United States returned to Kentucky for the celebration. Among her favorite and most anticipated contributions were "leather britches" green beans, sweet corn and pecan pie.
Kathleen Eaton was a gentle, inquisitive woman who was always trying to learn more. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and enjoyed getting together with relatives to talk about family history. She was a doting, thoughtful and generous mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Kathleen is survived by her daughter, Sandra Eaton Schulze (Chelsea, MI), two granddaughters Amanda (Chris) Tarasow (Chelsea, MI) and Kathleen (Zachary) Brown (Coppell, TX), and 4 beloved great-grandchildren, Margaret and Michael Tarasow and Roguen and Truxton Brown.
The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Kathleen's great niece, Bonni Sutton, for providing Kathleen with such loving, consistent companionship.
"In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore"
At Kathleen's wishes, her body had been donated to science.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 4, at the Rest Haven Cemetery for interment of her cremains with Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton officiating.
The Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements.