Lynette Gae Eaton

Lynette Gae Eaton, age 67, passed away peacefully at home on March 28, 2023, in Olathe, Kansas. She bravely fought her battle with cancer for 26 years.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 8 at 3:00 p.m., with visitation following until 5:00 p.m. in Garrett Chapel, College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 East Sheridan Street, Olathe, Kansas. Burial will take place on Monday, April 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Green Mound Cemetery, rural Palco.

Lynette was born on January 16, 1956, in Mohall, N.D., to Melvin and Cora (Bonness) Aune. She grew up on the family farm outside of Mohall. She was a 1974 graduate of Mohall High School. In 1978 she graduated from Mid-America Nazarene University, Olathe, with a B.A. in Music Education and Music Performance. She completed her M.M. in Music from Fort Hays State University, Hays, in 1991.

Lynette exchanged wedding vows with Dale Eaton on July 8, 1978, in Minot, ND. They lived in Larned and Altamont, before settling in Olathe in 1982.

Over her teaching career, Lynette taught elementary music in Oswego for two years and the Kansas City, Kansas school district for 29 years, eventually retiring in 2011. During the last ten years of her teaching career, in addition to teaching elementary music, she also taught reading. At Claude Huyck Elementary School in Kansas City, she was awarded the Teacher of the Year in 2002 and Star Teacher Award in 2009. She also received the Kansas Music Educators Association Northeast District Vocal Music Teacher of the Year.

Lynette began studying piano at an early age and, over the years, accompanied many soloists and vocal ensembles for school performances and weddings, church services, and special events. She developed a passion for playing the French horn while in high school and continued her horn studies in college. For over 25 years, she performed regularly with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, the Overland Park Orchestra, the Olathe Community Orchestra, and the Festival Brass Quintet. Lynette was a member of College Church of the Nazarene and sang with Children of Light, and was a member of the sanctuary orchestra.

Her favorite activities were attending the Kansas City Lyric Opera, listening to jazz on the Plaza, being the family historian, and following the Royals, Chiefs, KU Basketball, and K State football.

Survivors include her husband of 44 years, Dale; her sister, Mavis Kallestad (Leigh), Wayzata, Minn., and many Aune and Bonness cousins; mother-in-law, Mary (Towns) Eaton, Palco; brother-in-law, Don Eaton, Olathe; Aunts Wilda (Eaton) Aubrey, Bethany, Okla., and Shirley (Towns) Burr, Elba, Ala.; nieces and nephews Britney (Scott) Rice, Olathe, KS; Caleb (Sarah) Eaton, Leadville, Colo.; Joshua (Tiffany) Eaton, Arlington, Texas; Darci (Eric) Kimmerling, Henderson, Tenn.; Matthew (Deborah) Eaton, Holt, Mich.; and many cousins-in-law, great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Joseph Eaton; brother-in-law, Dan Eaton, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to SHELTER KC (a Kansas City rescue mission).

Memorials may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, Kansas 67663.