Audrey Van Eaton

Audrey L. Van Eaton born September 6, 1919 in Missoula, Montana to Lyle Darrow and Nellie Hay Darrow. Audrey grew up in various Montana towns: Missoula, Miles City, and Chouteau. Audrey graduated from University of Montana with a bachelors of arts in music and a major in French; she then attended the University of Washington receiving an MA on her dissertation thesis in 1950. Audrey began her teaching career at Davis high school in Yakima, WA, teaching French and Spanish. She was the mentor for a student teacher named Benjamin P. Van Eaton, they were married in 1954. Then they taught at Eisenhower high school until their retirement. Audrey loved to do needle handwork, loved music, playing various hand instruments, especially a violin she guarded with her life. Audrey also sang with the Bel Canto Choral of Yakima. Audrey and Ben loved to travel making a number of trips to South America, Europe; especially liked taking Elder Hostel trips. They enjoyed the Northwest, especially fishing trips to Curlew Lake and camping with family in the Cascades. They also enjoyed many trips to reunions of Ben's WWII 97th Infantry. Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Benjamin, sister Beverly and two nephews. No funeral service per their request. Arrangements have been entrusted to Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Sunnyside, WA. Online condolences can be made at valleyhillsfh.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Audrey Van Eaton, please visit our flower store.