Legia Eakins

Legia Eakins

Legia I. Eakins, 83 of Jackson (Tilsit) went to be with the Lord Sunday, July 29, 2007, having been a patient at Saint Francis Medical Center the past two weeks.

She was born Feb. 11, 1924, in Burfordville, daughter of the late Julius Alva and Minnie Irene Nance Crader. She and Hobert L. Eakins were married July 8, 1942, in Chaffee, Mo. He died May 27, 1985.

She attended the former Helderman School and Delta High School. She farmed along with her husband, worked at the former Scott City Garment Factory, the former Child's IGA, Story's Food Giant and Jackson Manor, until her retirement at age 75. Legia and Hob were foster parents to 26 children over a period of years.

Legia was an avid gardener and loved her flowers and enjoyed family times with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a former member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, a member at Crump Assembly of God Church, and most recently attended Cape First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include a son, Carl L. (Donna Kay) Eakins of Cape Girardeau; three daughters, Charlotte (Leon) Brooks of Chaffee, Carol (Dan) Kern of Seymour, Mo., Cathy Eakins of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, Lynn (Bev) Crader of Nashville, Tenn., and Lender "Frog" (Pat) Crader of Whitewater; a sister, Redia Sebastian of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Delthia Crader; six grandchildren, Gale (Royce) Ruddick, Robert (Kim) Stovall, Ron Eakins, Michelle (Bryan) Copeland, Amanda (Alex) Drake, and Joshua Kern; four great-grandchildren, Nathanial, Robyn, Christian and Abigail Stovall and a great-stepgrandchild, Emily Drake.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Everett and Russell Crader, and two sisters, Lena Wampler and Lela Huffman.

Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. J. D. Smith and the Rev. Charles Lance officiating. Burial will be in McGuire Cemetery, located south of Burfordville.

Pallbearers will be Ron Eakins, Joshua Kern, Robert Stovall, Bryan Copeland, Royce and Daniel Ruddick.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to McGuire Cemetery Fund. Legia and Hob were devoted caretakers of the cemetery many years.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.