Obituary of Leo Watt Eason

Leo W. Eason, II , 93, of Olympia, WA passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of November 18, 2016 under the loving care of his immediate family and extended family of caregivers at his residence for the last year, The Comfort Haven of Lacey. Devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, Lee will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. Born in Ballard, WA to Leo Sr. and Alice Grace (Christenson) Eason as the middle sibling between older sister Evelyn and younger brother Robert (Chuck), Lee resided in Washington State his whole life. A graduate of Kirkland High School, Lee attended University of Washington and had completed two years of ROTC training in 1942 when he was drafted into the military and sent to Fort Knox, KY for basic training. Just prior to Lee’s graduation from pilot training in the Army Air Force, President Roosevelt disbanded all Air Force training units for need of ground forces and Lee was assigned to the Army’s 75th Infantry Division based out of Camp Breckenridge, KY. It was during this time at a military social event that Lee fell in love with his future wife, Catherine Ann Ward of New Harmony, IN. He vowed to return from the front lines to marry Catherine, and Lee was one of only 17 surviving members of his regiment to survive combat in Belgium, the Colmar Pocket, Grand Halleaux, and the Rhine crossing. A Staff Sergeant and platoon leader, Lee was awarded Combat Infantry, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Good Conduct Medals for his service in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. With an honorable discharge from the Army at the end of WWII, Lee made good on his promise and returned to marry his bride Catherine on January 2, 1948 in her hometown of New Harmony. The couple moved together as husband and wife back to Seattle, WA where they began their family after Lee completed his engineering degree at the University of Washington. After finishing college Lee worked for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey for 11 years, including spending two years at the North Pole early in his career. Lee furthered his engineering career by moving to Olympia, WA to take a Bridge Engineer position with the Washington State Department of Transportation where he worked for 30 years, retiring in 1988. With a passion for volunteering and a deep work-ethic, Lee continued working long beyond his retirement as a consulting professional engineer, Chief Surveyor of hydroplane race courses for the American Power Boat Association, researcher with the National Academy of Science, and Public Assistance Officer for FEMA which took him to natural disaster sites both nationally and to Puerto Rico. Married for almost 69 years, Lee and Catherine raised three boys and a girl in the home Lee built in Olympia and where the family continues to gather. Lee’s yard was his masterpiece, as he enjoyed yardwork and keeping his yard manicured like a park. Lee enjoyed a multitude of hobbies and volunteer experiences, including starting the Olympia Boy Scout Troop 101 and serving as both Scout Master and Eagle Scout Advisor for many years. Lee’s favorite hobbies included spending time with his family, building furniture and homewares as an avid woodworker, square and round dancing with Catherine for more than 40 years, flying exotic kites, and traveling in their RV. A passionate Christian, Lee was quite active in the First United Methodist Church of Olympia for the entirety of his time in Olympia and spent many hours of volunteer time with the church as a Sunday school teacher, occasional organist (Lee played piano beautifully by ear!), builder and community support member. Lee was preceded in death by his parents Leo Sr. and Alice Grace Eason, his brother Robert “Chuck” Eason who passed away at age 90 just a month prior to Lee, and great-grandson Emmett Henry Holt who also went to be with God this year. Lee is survived by his wife of 68 years Catherine, his sister Evelyn Bunton, his children Michael, Steve, Don (Sharon) and Cathy (Andre), grandchildren Andy (Susan), Jennifer Long (Mike), Nicole Kramer (Paul) and Kristin Holt (Tim), and great-grandchildren Jayden Riley, Madison and Grayson Long. The family will hold a private interment ceremony at 11:00am Thursday, December 8, 2016 at the OddFellows Memorial Cemetery in Tumwater, WA followed by a public Memorial Service at 1:00pm Thursday December 8, 2016 to be held at First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501. All who knew and loved Lee are most welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made in Lee’s name to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation or First United Methodist Church Olympia.