Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Former BC home economics teacher, wife of dam worker dies at 100

Mary Eaton was well-loved in all parts of BC community, friends say

Mary Eaton

Tovin Lapan / News file photo

Mary Eaton died Saturday. Eaton, who turned 100 last April, moved to Boulder City July 4, 1932.

Click to enlarge photo

Mary Eaton, who died Saturday, holds her wedding photo in this photo from last year.

For almost 77 years, Mary Eaton had her hands in most everything that makes Boulder City what it is today.

A charter member of Grace Community Church and a well-loved home economics teacher who served on the Boulder City Hospital's board and was a leader of many local service organizations, Eaton at first didn't intend to stay, declaring in 1932 she'd be gone in a year, after her husband, Bruce, finished construction work at the Hoover Dam.

But her dear friends in Boulder City, who were her life, persuaded her to stay, her daughter Kay Hettinger said.

"The ladies she played bridge with, the kids she taught in school, everyone at church — all was well in her world," Hettinger said.

Eaton, 100, died Saturday in Boulder City.

She was born April 14, 1908, in Sedgwick County, Kan., the first of four children. She graduated from the University of Wichita in home economics and married Bruce Eaton on June 11, 1931. He died in 1985.

The Eatons came to Nevada on the Fourth of July, 1932, so Bruce could work on building the Hoover Dam. Mary taught both elementary and high school for 13 years.

Violet Tracht called Mary a "true, blue friend," someone she'd loved dearly for more than 70 years and with whom she enjoyed trips to Mexico City and Alaska.

Tracht said when she needed to give speeches for local clubs, she always went to her clever friend Mary for help.

In addition to Hettinger, of Las Vegas, Eaton is survived by her son, Gary Bruce of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; six granchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce, her brothers "Gip" and Allen Webb and her sister Audrey Wetherington Lauterbach.

Funeral services were private. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Community Church, The Homestead at Boulder City, where Eaton lived, or a charity of one's choice.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].

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