Fayette resident Frances Eaton, age 92, passed away peacefully at the Lodge in Fayette, Mo., on March 6, 2024.

Frances F. Eaton was born in Fayette, Mo., on August 1, 1931. She was the only child born to the late John Nipper and Ione Maupin. Frances attended and graduated from Fayette High School with the class of 1949. On May 23, 1953, Frances married the love of her life, Larry Lee Eaton. The couple enjoyed 65 years of marriage together. Larry preceded her in death on May 30, 2018. Frances spent her entire professional career working for Southwestern Bell Co. as a telephone operator. She worked at locations in Fayette, Moberly, and Boonville and retired in 1980. Frances was a devout member of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church and enjoyed working with the Sunday School children for numerous years. Frances was also a member of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Pioneers. Frances was loving, caring, and very family-oriented.  

Survivors include her three sons, John (Debbie) Eaton of Wichita, Kan., Wally (Kim) Eaton of Fayette, Mo., and Mike (Lisa) Eaton of Columbia, Mo.; six grandchildren: Krystal (Marc) Kauffman, Kendall (Ashley Wehmeyer) Eaton, Meganne (Sixto) Montesinos, Amanda Eaton, Tim (Kaitlyn) Eaton and Thomas Eaton; and five great-grandchildren: Brody and Brock Kauffman, Aubree Wehmeyer, Ezra Montesinos and Ruth Eaton.

A funeral service honoring the life of Frances Eaton will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Friemonth-Freese Funeral Home in Fayette, with Revs. Mike Jackman and Bill O’Neal officiating. Visitation will be an hour before the service starting at 10 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Fayette City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Linn Memorial UMC Children’s Sunday School or Hometown Homecare, c/o Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service, 174 Hwy. 5 & 240 N., Fayette, MO 65248.