Ann Marie Magee Eaton, June 28, 1926-Oct. 18, 2011

Ann Marie Magee Eaton, 85, formerly of Bellevue and a resident for the last five years at Sunrise of Findlay, died Oct. 18, 2011, in Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay, Ohio.

She was born June 28, 1926, in Gainesville, Fla., to Lester Andrew and Loretta (McNerney) Magee. Following the loss of her parents, she was raised by her mother’s siblings, Vera McNerney and Adelbert McNerney. Del later adopted Ann and her sister, Vera Jane.

As a child she spent many summers in East Tennessee, and in 1940 watched as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was driven by in an open car on his way to the dedication of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

She was raised in Cleveland, where she graduated on D-Day, June 6, 1944, from James Ford Rhodes High School, serving as valedictorian and president of the June graduating class. She would recall having to alter her remarks at the last minute to reflect the events of the day. At Rhodes she was a member of Cahokia — a close-knit group of women who continued the club for the rest of their lives. She attended Fenn College, now Cleveland State University. She was of the Catholic faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Hudson Eaton, M.D., whom she married in 1945. He died in July 2005, about a month before their 60th wedding anniversary. Dr. Eaton established a medical practice in Greenwich. Ann was active in the community, serving as a leader of the Huron County Medical Auxiliary, chairman of the United Way fund drive, member of the Greenwich History Club, and supporter of her four children’s many activities.

She was passionate about the registered Morgan horses that her family raised for 40 years at Firelands Farms after the family moved to Bellevue. She and her husband were co-founders of the nationally acclaimed Carrousel Stables training facility in Bellevue. The Stables produced numerous National Grand Champion Morgans.

She is survived by four children, Thomas Hudson (Dixie) Eaton, Jr., Deborah Eaton (Dwaine) Beck, Melissa Leigh Eaton and Hudson R. (Kim Walter) Eaton II; three grandsons, Thomas Hudson Eaton III, Nicholas Gordon (Jessica) Beck, and Geoffrey Thomas Beck; and a sister, Vera Jane Magee (Howard) Tedick.
The family wishes to express deep appreciation to Deborah Rollins for her loving care of Ann; Dr. Gregory Ricketts, the staff of Sunrise of Findlay, especially Robin Barnett, and the Bridge Hospice Care Center.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Coldren-Crates Funeral Home, 205 W. Sandusky St., Findlay. Scripture service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday following the visitation, with the Rev. Msgr. Michael Hohenbrink officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at Strong’s Ridge Cemetery, Bellevue.
Memorials may be made to Back to the Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation & Nature Education Center, 4504 Bardshar Road, P.O. Box 423, Castalia, OH 44824.

Condolences may be made at coldrencrates.com.