Artha Leigh “Doodsie” Smith Eaton went to be with her Savior, family, and numerous friends on June 25, 2021, at the age of 90-½, as she would say.

Doodsie was born to Chester Arthur Smith and Bethel Ruth Segrest Smith in Woodville, Texas, at exactly midnight on Oct. 22-23, 1930, and was proud of having been born on the cusp of Libra and Scorpius and exhibiting traits of both, often to the dismay of those who loved her.

Since Leigh hated the fact that her first name was often mispronounced, she called herself Doodsie, and was known to her family by that name. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Harold Lee Swinney, and her special friend John J. Sotello of Alpine, Texas.

She is survived by her children Karen Lynn Swinney Philpott and husband Bill of Ingleside on the Bay, Texas, Daniel Patrick Eaton of Marathon, Texas, Tammie Leigh Eaton-Mills and husband Corey of Fort Riley, Kan., Paula Beth Eaton-Swan and husband Craig of Toledo, Ohio, Michael Arthur Eaton and wife Linda of Pinellas Park, Fla., and Priscilla Marie Eaton-Carter and husband Brock of Sweetwater, Texas. Her only sibling, Patrick A. Smith and wife Brenda reside in Shell Knob, Mo. Leigh had 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her beloved dog Chewy is still waiting for her special friend “Patches” Carter to help wheel her back into the house.

During Doodsie’s life she was a model for Foley’s department store, a gold solderer at Hughes Aircraft for the Apollo Missions, and a union steward at Maxwell House Coffee in Houston, Texas.

Crosswords and all other words led her to get an Associates in Arts in Journalism from Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, in 1992. She wrote poetry and sought out poor editing in newspapers as a pastime. Leigh worked as a volunteer at the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, and completed Leadership Big Bend in 1999. Leigh was active in the VFW and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Leigh loved to play keyboard instruments, and was wonderful to listen to. For several weeks prior to receiving her new body, she only played one song without an error, “Don’t Fence Me In,” made popular by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

The family would like to recognize a few special friends who supported Doodsie and her family during the last years, months, and days of her earthly life - Janet Link Groth and husband Walter, Steve and Arlene Griffis, Darlene Mollard, Guilford Jones, Ingrid Belohorkova-Voelkel, Marci Roberts, James H. Evans, Jessica Galindo, David Ottmer, and the family of Andrew and Judy Kurie.

Memorial service will be Aug. 14, 2021, at Evans Gallery in Marathon at 3 p.m. under the direction of Steve Griffis. Limited indoor seating will be available to special guests observing health protocols. A Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m. at the McGonagil house on U.S. 90 east. Food and music will be shared, and she will join us in spirit from Heaven.

“Give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above. Don’t fence me in.”