Sunset
Verna Eaton, age 90, passed away Aug. 27, 2021, in Sunset, Maine. She was born July 3, 1931, in Stonington to George and Leona (Robbins) Gross, Sr.
Verna’s father was a fisherman, and her mother took in boarders (stonecutters from the quarry). Verna and her cousin Norman were often left to their own devices (along with the other Green Head kids). In those days, kids would be outside all day until called in for lunch, and then outside again until suppertime. One time Mom and her cousin sawed a rowboat in half because it was too heavy to drag out of the boathouse in one piece. Another time, they got in trouble for throwing green apples onto the rooftop of an especially grouchy old lady’s house.
In high school, Verna played basketball and took business classes. Her best friend’s name was Teresa.
Verna met Dowe at a community dance when they were 17. He walked up to her and said, “You wouldn’t want to dance with me, would you?” And she said, “Oh, wouldn’t I!!”
They were married Sept. 17, 1950, at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Stonington. Their lives revolved around their children (Nardene, Karmi, Tanya and Tony), church life and their business (Elmer B. Eaton & Son) where Verna was a bookkeeper.
Verna and Dowe enjoyed RV camping, traveling with friends on vacations, and going to reunions and other church activities. Verna made big dinners at home for company and then huge dinners for holidays with family. Family friend Harley White made a sign that’s been in her kitchen for decades: “This is Verna’s kitchen. If you doubt it, just start something.”
When daughter-in-law Nancy first met Verna, she came in to find the house filled with loaves of bread, and Mom was mixing a new batch of dough in a canning kettle. She was cooking for a church fair.
When the kids were young, she made them matching sweaters for Christmas and matching Easter dresses for the girls. (How did she ever find the time?) Verna also knitted hundreds of mittens and gave a pair to each trick-or-treater on Halloween.
Some of our best times were holidays when we played games of Rook, and Mom put cotton in her ears because she said SOMEBODY was too loud.
Verna was predeceased by her husband, Albert Dowe; daughters Karmi McCune and Tanya Taylor; granddaughter Erin; granddaughter Sariah Lindstrom and her husband, Paul; brothers George Gross, Jr., and Wallace Gross; and several nieces and nephews.
Verna is survived by her daughter Nardene and husband, Ray; son Tony and wife, Nancy; sons-in-law Ron McCune and David Taylor; granddaughter Esther McCune; granddaughter Nannette Smith, husband Brett, and children: Sydney, Emily, Penny and Collin; grandson Glenn Wiskur, wife Heidi and children: Eleanor, Lydia, and Dowe; grandson David McCune, wife Jenny and children: Rowen, Taryn, Alyson and Kaedyn; granddaughter Hannah Gray, husband Chris, and children: Norah and Claire; granddaughter Samantha Dunham, husband Spencer Mishoe and children: Addie, Porter and Teddy Dowe; granddaughter Layla Strout, husband Brad and children: Asher and Ezra; and grandson Lucas Eaton and Mary Connolly and child: Levi Anthony.
Mom had many wonderful caregivers in these last years, including Val, daughter Tanya, granddaughter Esther McCune, and then a team organized by Kristina, Robin and Tasha. The blessings to this family have been overwhelming. We thank the Lord for sending these girls to us. May the Lord bless them richly for their sacrifices and hard work.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the Memorial Ambulance Corps or the Sunset Restoration Branch in Sunset, Maine.
Because of Covid, there will be no visitation. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, outside, behind the Dowe and Verna Eaton home, 200 Sunset Road, (Sunset) Deer Isle, Maine. The family will have a private committal service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Ellsworth, where online condolences may be shared: www.bragdonkelley.com.