Fayette woman ran Eagle Funeral Home

3/30/2004

FAYETTE, Ohio - Elaine M. Eagle, the former owner of Eagle Funeral Home here, died Sunday in her home. She was 67.

The exact cause of death was not known, said her son, Mark.

The Eagle family owned five other funeral homes, all in southeast Michigan, along with a printing business in Fayette.

"She had a dedication to the community," her son said. "She was very much a people person and was a source of strength for so many people during their time of grief."

Mr. Eagle said his family got into the mortuary business in 1933 when his grandfather purchased one.

"My dad and my uncle bought a couple of different funeral homes when my grandfather retired," he said. "And my parents bought the Fayette funeral home in 1956 when they came to Fayette."

The couple began operating Eagle Printing in 1965 from the same location as the Fayette mortuary, 412 West Main St. It remains in the family.

Mrs. Eagle's husband, Loren Robert Eagle, died in 1990. She sold the Fayette mortuary the following year to John Barrett, who now owns all six of the Eagle Funeral Homes.

Mr. Barrett asked Mrs. Eagle to continue operating the business after he purchased it in 1991. Mrs. Eagle worked there until her death, he said.

"She had to be one of the best people to help other people through their grieving process," Mr. Barrett said.

Mrs. Eagle continued to operate the printing business until her death.

She was a member of the Sky Bank board of directors, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Fayette Foundation, and Fayette Methodist Church. She was also treasurer of the Gorham Fayette school district's building project committee in 1996.

Surviving are her son, Mark; daughter, Deborah Seward; two grandchildren; father, Creo Mohr; and brothers, Robert and Dean Mohr.

The body will be in the Eagle Funeral home after 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. Funeral services will be held in the mortuary at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The family suggests tributes be to the Fayette Foundation, Fayette Opera House, or the charity of the donor's choice.