Joann Eaves

JoAnn Eaves, age 81 made her transition into the loving arms of God on February 8, 2023 at Baptist Health Deaconess, Madisonville. Born November 23, 1941, in Madisonville, Kentucky, she was the loving daughter of the late Albert Lee Davis, Sr. and Grace (Hyler) Davis.

JoAnn attended Rosenwald High School where she was a clarinetist in the band and enjoyed traveling to the many events where the band played such as the Kentucky Derby. Upon graduation in 1960, JoAnn left Madisonville to attend West Kentucky Vocational School in Paducah, Kentucky where she studied office technology.

In 1964, JoAnn married James Eaves, Jr. of Earlington, Kentucky and to that union, two daughters, Felicia and Monica were born. Shortly after Felicia was born, she, and her small family moved from Madisonville, to Evansville, Indiana.

JoAnn worked as an X-Ray Laboratory Assistant for Hopkins County Hospital in Madisonville, Nurse Aide for the former St. Mary’s Hospital and as a Cafeteria Assistant for the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation, both in Evansville,Indiana. In 1977, she and her family relocated to San Diego, California, where she began a career in retail, working for the Salvation Army Thrift Store and The Broadway, Department Store. JoAnn remained in San Diego, until 1995 when she returned to Madisonville, and later took on the challenging, yet rewarding labor-of-love, of raising her four granddaughters.

JoAnn enjoyed dancing, bowling, traveling, cooking wonderful meals for her family and had an interest in politics and civic participation of which she ardently acted upon by voting in every election that she could and encouraging others to so through her membership in the Garden Acres Neighborhood Club in Evansville, where she provided car rides to the polls for those who were without transportation. She gave her life to Christ at an early age and attended several churches throughout her lifetime. However, her immense faith in and love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, transcended the walls of any church she attended.

In addition to her father and mother, JoAnn was preceded in death by her sister, Wanda Joyce Slaton, brother, Albert Lee Davis, Jr. aunt, Mattie Hyler Sharber, uncle Charlie N. Sharber, maternal grandmother, Corine Lowe Hyler, maternal grandfather, Icunion Hyler, paternal grandfather, Herbert Davis, paternal grandmother, Annie Bell (Browder) Davis; uncles, Clarence, Frank, Warren and William Davis; nieces:Taj Hightower and Kendra Middleton; nephews, Kerry Slaton and Amplis Slaton III.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her beloved husband, James Eaves, Jr.,Evansville, Indiana; Daughters: Felicia Eaves, Madisonville, Kentucky and Monica Eaves Winston, Eunice, Louisiana; Sister, Jaqueline Middleton, Austin Texas; Step Mother, Joanne McNary Davis, Madisonville,Kentucky; Step brothers and sister; Kyle McNary (Cheri), Hanson, Kentucky, Larry McNary, Madisonville,Kentucky, Tara McNary, Lexington, Kentucky, Mike McNary (Lisa),Lexington, Kentucky, Keith McNary (Karen), Matthews, North Carolina; Granddaughters: Sharlisa Sangster, Elgin, Illinois, Marlena Eaves, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, LaTonya Burns, Louisville, Kentucky and Shante Parker, Atlanta, Georgia; Nephews Antonia (Tony) Martin (Kelli), Reno,Nevada,Terry Middleton,Jr.(Tifani), Austin, Texas, and Kendrick Gray,Clarksville, Texas ; Nieces Bridgette Reynolds, Evansville, Indiana, Linda Reynolds-Biddle, Madisonville, Kentucky, Kureka Middleton, Dallas,Texas, Sylvia Gray, Clarksville,Texas and Amerrah Davis, Cairo,Egypt; Sisters and Brother in-law: Etta Martin, San Diego, California, Charles Eaves, Sr.(Pernell), Earlington, Kentucky, Ruby Johnson Greer, Madisonville, Kentucky, and Shirley Eaves, Madisonville, Kentucky; Special Family Friend, Natalie Barnes, Lexington, Kentucky; four great-grandchildren and one on the way; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.