Donna S. Eaves - 4/14/20

Funeral for Donna S. Eaves

April 14, 2020

[Song]

We gather today to mourn the death, but also to celebrate the life of Donna Eaves.

We just finished Easter and so I remind you of the promise of Jesus,

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.

This is the promise we hold onto today . . . the reality of life beyond the grave.

As we mourn today we seek the Lord’s help, so will you pray with me?

Our heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for the impact of those we love in our lives. As we gather to remember Donna’s life today, please comfort this family with fond memories of times they shared together. Bring comfort to them as they grieve and give them hope in the resurrection today. Make this family aware of your presence, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Donna S. Eaves was born on October 8, 1937 in Fort Madison the daughter of George and Florence (Anderson) Adams. Donna was a graduate of Fort Madison High School. She was grateful for her sister, Betty.

On May 4, 1956 she married Guy Eaves in Fort Madison. They were blessed with three children: Jennette Poulson and Steve and David Eaves all from Fountain Green. I am told that Donna and Guy were both disciplinarians in the home. She was also blessed with 3 Grandchildren, Amber, Brittany and Kenlee and seven great-grandchildren. All of whom she loved dearly and unconditionally.

It sounds to me like Donna was an active woman. She worked in various jobs: the tomato factory, the Iowa Munitions plant, as a CNA at the Elms in Macomb, Methode, in Carthage, and she worked at Carl Sandburg college for 25 years.

Donna had lots outside interests. She loved to tend her flowers, watch the hummingbirds, she crocheted, made a quilt once (and she said the LAST time). She loved to mow. She mowed even after she broke her hip! She loved the ocean because she found it very peaceful.

Donna loved animals, especially Elie her dog.

Most of all, Donna loved her family, I love seeing the pictures of her hugging family members because the picture speaks volumes about who she was. When the Grandkids came to visit Donna she always made them their favorite foods. Donna always had good advice, she had a fun sense of humor, and if you tried to tease her, she would tease you right back.

Donna Eaves was a woman who was willing to help anyone. She had a huge capacity to love. She believed in life beyond the grave because she used to lay on the grass in the backyard and look at the clouds and say, "Hi Mommy."

Donna sounds like a woman who was content and grateful in her life. Those who were the recipients of her love have been strengthened and changed by her. She may be gone but the influence of her life will go on for a long time.

I am going to give Amber a chance to read her poem to her Grandma,

Grandma

Thank you for the gift of love.

Now you're sharing it up above.

You had many things to say,

All in a caring way.

You always saw good in everyone,

No matter what they've done.

You were always the one we could lean on,

Even though it must have felt like a ton.

You were always the strength of the family.

Now we must let you rest calmly.

We say goodbye for now,

as tears roll down our face.

I know your place in heaven has a good view.

You're telling God,

I need to keep an eye on a few.

I know you will always be in our hearts and minds.

So grandma,

I must go, But I will never forget you

You are one of a kind

-Amber Eaves

As we stand at a graveside today we are reminded of an important truth: every one of us will eventually face the same fate. At some point, our bodies will betray us and we, like Donna, will eventually have to wrestle with our own mortality.

In the Bible, Solomon writes these words,

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies—so the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4A wise person thinks a lot about death,while a fool thinks only about having a good time. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, NLT)

As we stand here today, we recognize that we must wrestle with the question of what happens after we die. Some believe that you live, you die, and that’s it. If that’s the case, a cemetery is a very depressing place to be. Life itself would be futile. But the Bible gives us a different option—it says that those who trust in Jesus Christ will not remain dead, but will live again with Him in heaven.

That is the hope I hold out to you today. Those who trust in Jesus Christ to forgive our failures and sin, are more alive after they die than they have ever been. I pray Donna is experiencing a joy far greater than anything this life has to offer.

In Ephesians 2 the apostle Paul says it is by grace that we are saved through faith. Grace is a gift. It is often paired with the word "mercy." We stand here today committing Donna to the grace and mercy of our Lord. We do so confident He will see Donna's heart and extend His mercy to her.

My challenge to you today is to take this opportunity to prepare yourself for the fact that this life is temporary. If we recognize this truth, it will cause us to do a couple things:

Remember what is most important in this life. We will remember that time spent with those we love, building memories, and giving of ourselves to others is what ultimately lasts, so that’s where we should invest our time and energy.

Examine our own faith, to see where we stand. We don’t know when our lives will end, so we owe it to ourselves to make sure we are ready. That starts with wrestling with the truths contained in the Bible and choosing whether to embrace its message or not. That decision is one that should not be taken lightly.

As we lay to rest the earthly remains of Donna Eaves today, we want to remember her life. We want to remember the many fond memories of her, and we want to remember the way her life impacted the lives of others. But I also want to challenge you to remember that life is short, and to live with that perspective, so you may be ready for the day you come face to face with death. As you remember Donna today, and in the days, months, and years to come, I hope you will remember all of these things we can learn from her life, and let them drive you to live your life even better.

[song]

Will you pray with me?

Our heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of Donna Eaves. We thank you for her spirit, her laughter, and the life she brought to so many around her. As we leave today, Lord, I pray that you would help us to remember the lessons we can learn from her. Help us to put them into practice as we go forward in our own lives. Bring comfort to these friends and family both today and in the days to come. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.