Our friend and classmate, Steve Eatherton, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.  His passing took place 5 short days after our 40th class reunion, held in Kearney.  We were all fortunate to have one last reunion with him on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at his home with his wife Sheri, and son Shawn.  It was a glorious day for us to be able to spend a few cherished moments with him, and hopefully, it was the  proper send-off  now that he's arrived at his eternal home.  We love you, the Class of 1969.

KEARNEY - Steven D. "Steve" Eatherton, 58, of Kearney died of cancer Thursday, June 18, 2009, at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at New Life Assembly with the Revs. Bob Wine and Roger Wendt officiating. Burial will be at Kearney Cemetery. There will be no visitation. O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born March 19, 1951, in Grand Island to Dale and Nadine (Brandt) Eatherton. On May 30, 1970, he married Sheri Stickney in Kearney. Survivors include his wife; sons, Shawn and his wife, Shantel, and Tye, all of Kearney; stepdaughter, Wendy Paulsen and her husband, Scott, of Grand Island; grandsons, Nolan and Easton Eatherton of Kearney and Tyler, Trevor and Travis Paulsen of Grand Island; special nieces, Melisa and Kasidy Dobish of Kearney; father, Dale Eatherton, and stepmother, MaryAnn, of Gibbon; brother, Terry and his wife, Gilberta, of Gibbon; sisters, Ranae Howard and her husband, Bob, and Tami Anderson and her husband, Mick, all of Kearney, and Ronda Dix and her husband, Larry, of Lincoln; and in-laws, Bob and Glendoris Stickney, Kristi Fisher and her husband, Ken, of Ravenna, Steve Stickney of Kearney and Rich Stickney of Alliance. He grew up in the Kearney area and graduated from Kearney High School in 1969. He and his wife made their home in Kearney. He was employed with Eaton Corp. for more than 15 years until 1990. He worked in sales until his health forced him to retire in 1998. He was a member of New Life Assembly, where he was active in several groups. He especially enjoyed helping with the Singing Christmas Tree and Royal Kids Camps. He loved projects around the house and took great pride in his lawn, but he loved God and his family above all else. Anyone who met Steve knew that his wife, sons and grandsons were his greatest joys in life. He was preceded in death by his mother. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society,  the Kearney American Legion Baseball Association or the church. Online condolences or personal reflections can be submitted at osafh.com.