Obituary of Dorothy Jean Eaton

Dorothy Jean Eaton was born December 12, 1945 to Bridges and Henry Payton, in Bakersfield, CA; the sixth of seven children born to the couple. She spent many years serving her community as a peace officer; first as a police officer, then as a sheriff’s deputy. All the while dedicating herself to the raising of her own children, being a surrogate mother to her nieces and nephews and a devoted foster mother to many children throughout the community over the years. Her devotion to children drove her to open her own successful daycare, where she became endearingly known as “Grammy” to her daycare children. Many of them spent their weekends and vacations with her as an extended part of their family. She continued to run this successful daycare for many years in the northern valley of California. Her later years were dedicated to being a full-time foster parent and devoted grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 54 years Ray Eaton; her son, Lonnie Eaton; her daughter, Jennifer Eaton-Abbott; her devoted son-in-law Brandon Abbott; and her three granddaughters, Lauren Alyssa Eaton-Ghilardi, Julie Anna Marie Eaton-Ghilardi, and Denise Nicole Eaton; she also leaves behind her youngest sibling Wesley Payton; many nieces, nephews and extended family. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and six of her seven siblings, and several nephews. After suffering from a sudden and unexpected illness, she passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on the morning of March 26, 2017.