Etta May Eagle

Etta May Eagle, age 92 years, of Jefferson City, formerly of St. Louis, Mo., passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at St. Joseph's Bluffs. Etta May was born on October 4, 1918, in Monett, Mo., a daughter of William J. B. and Tirzah Cornell Miller. She was married on September 22, 1951, in St. Louis, Mo. to Alan F. Eagle. Etta May was a 1936 graduate of Cleveland High School in St. Louis, and later attended both Hadley Vocational School and Rubicam Business School. She was employed by the American Stove Company as a temporary typist, and was soon hired as a permanent employee, working her way up to a position as executive secretary before leaving to raise her family. Later she was employed as a secretary and science teacher at Rohan Woods School, retiring after 20 years in 1986. After her retirement, she joined the first class of volunteer naturalists at Powder Valley Nature Center, eventually earning an award for contributing over 2000 hours of service. Etta May was a member of the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, the Scottish St. Andrew's Society of Greater St. Louis, CE Vets, Warson Woods Garden Club, and the Y.M.C.A. She and her husband were members of the Mr. and Mrs. Club, a group of friends that have been meeting for monthly outings for over 50 years. She enjoyed gardening, collecting rocks, crafting, painting, sewing and quilting. She loved children, animals, and being in the out-of-doors. She was a Sunday school teacher and a Girl Scout Leader for many years. Survivors include: her loving husband of 59 years, Alan Eagle; three daughters, Bonnie Howe and her husband Kenneth of Beaverton, Ore., Robyn Fleming and her husband John of Jefferson City, Mo. and Donna Eagle Joslin and her husband Blake of Asheville, N.C.; Seven grandchildren, Becky Meyer of Kansas City, Mo., Amy Crawford of Kansas City, Mo., Callie Fleming of Columbia, Mo., Andrew Howe of Portland, Ore., Scott Howe of Portland, Ore., Joshua Eagle-Wilkinson of Asheville, N.C., and Emma Eagle Joslin of Asheville, N.C.; one great-grandchild, Cade Crawford of Kansas City, Mo. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Betty Jo Foster. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011, in the chapel at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, Webster Groves, Mo. with the Reverend Dr. John S. Carothers officiating. Reception will follow. Inurnment will be conducted at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden at a later time. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be sent to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation in memory of Etta May Eagle, P.O. Box 366, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0366. Contributions will be directed to the Powder Valley Nature Center. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com