David Pierce Eaton, 83, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025, at Suncoast Hospice Care Center in Pinellas Park, Florida, after a brief illness.
Born on August 21, 1942, in Pittsburgh, PA, David was the son of Jane and Elon “Pat” Howard Eaton Jr. He spent his childhood in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, where he met his first
wife, Ellen. The two attended Bowling Green State University before marrying in 1965 and beginning their family together.
In 1972, David, Ellen, and their children moved to Clifton Springs, New York, where he lived until 1980. In 1983, David married Doris, his partner of more than four decades. Together, they built a life filled with travel and shared passions, living in Lyons and Sodus, New York, from 1980 until eventually settling in Madeira Beach, Florida, in 2014. David’s connection to Canandaigua Lake ran deep and spanned his entire life. His father’s family built a cabin there in the late 19th century, and David spent countless summers at the lake as both a child and an adult. He also spent summers with cousins on Chautauqua Lake. Some of his happiest memories were riding his motorcycle on trips to visit family. David’s grandfather, Elon Howard Eaton Sr., was a renowned ornithologist, leading to many family members enjoying the study of birds, including David.
David earned his pilot’s license in Nevada, completing his first solo flight in a Piper on October 24, 1966. He later became a flight instructor, sharing his knowledge of aviation
with others. He also served as a firefighter and medic for the Clifton Springs Volunteer Fire Department during the 1970s, reflecting his ability to work well in a crisis. Over the years, David held various professional roles, including at an insurance agency, GW Lisk Machine Shop in Clifton Springs, and Parker Hannifin in Lyons, New York, before retiring. Photography was a passion he inherited from his mother. As a young man, David often had his camera and even developed his own photographs in a basement darkroom he built himself. In later years, he and Doris enjoyed traveling, taking memorable trips to Moscow, London, and a cruise along the Rhine River.
David is survived by his wife, Doris Eaton (née Shockency), and their cat, Sassy; his daughter Erica Eaton (Denise); his son Aaron Eaton (Dyan); his grandchildren Stefan
Eaton (Alexia), Nicholas Eaton, Zachary Eaton, Hafte Doris-Eaton, and Abrehet Doris-Eaton; and his great-granddaughter, Jade Naomi Eaton. He is also survived by his former wife, Ellen Eaton (née Gilligan); his brother-in-law Daniel “Doc” Halliday; his sister-in-law Nancy Shockency; and his brother-in-law Walter Shockency; close family friends Sandy Morrisette and Kenny Doubs; and several nieces and nephews and extended relatives.
He was predeceased by his parents, Elon Howard “Pat” Eaton Jr. and Jane Eaton (née Pierce); his brother, John Eaton; his sister, Patricia “Patti” Halliday (née Eaton); his
brother-in-law Tom Shockency; his sister-in-law Trudy Hicks (née Thompson); and several beloved pets that he and Doris shared over the years. In his later years, David found peace by the water, enjoying the beach near his home and watching dolphins alongside Doris. He was known for his curiosity, a love for intellectual debate, and philosophy.
