Doris Reynolds Eaton

Doris Reynolds Eaton, beloved matriarch of the Grove family, passed away peacefully at Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with her family by her side on July 6, 2024 at the age of 104, leaving behind a legacy of love and strength that will forever inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Doris was born on January 23, 1920 in Ithaca, NY, the daughter of the late Beth Miller Reynolds and George Andrew Reynolds.  She grew up in Trumansburg, NY, where she was one of 26 graduating members of the Class of 1938 from the Trumansburg Central High School.  Doris married F. Wheeler Grove on May 11, 1939, and they started raising their four sons together on the family's country farm.  After Wheeler passed away in 1959, Doris and the boys moved to town where she worked various jobs while tending for her young family.  Doris remarried in 1967.  She lived in Trumansburg until the fall of 1976 when she and her husband, Clifford Eaton, purchased a lake home on Cayuga Lake at Poplar Beach where she remained for the next 48 years.

Doris and Clifford spent many years wintering in Florida on Pine Island where they enjoyed the good life of sunshine, fishing, collecting shells, and cribbage matches. Clifford passed away in 1993.  Doris then spent winters with her son, John Grove (Major, USAF, Ret.), where she loved to walk the white sand beaches of Fort Walton Beach, FL, and worked many hours at Hurlburt Air Field sorting items collected by John, the Air Commando Association, and the McCoskrie/Threshold Foundation for distribution to those in need around the world.  In recent years, she spent winters in Sauquoit, NY with her son, Ed, and Carole Grove, where she especially enjoyed great home-cooked meals, early morning chats by the wood stove, reminiscing, and telling old tales.  Doris found herself embraced by new circles of friends in each of these locations, and she had remained in touch with all of them.

The Grove family is deeply grateful to the entire Popular Beach community and healthcare aide, Juls, for their consistent care and support in regularly checking on Doris. Thanks to their kindness, Doris was able to maintain her independence in her own home until recent months.  Thank you also to the staff at the CNRC for their help and advice as Doris navigated these last few months.

Doris is survived by two sons, Floyd W. Grove, III (Cindy Prince) of New Holland, PA, William Grove (Carol) of Trumansburg, NY; daughter-in-law, Carole Grove, of Sauquoit, NY; sister-in-law, Gladys Reynolds, of Springfield, MO; cousin, Carmen Reynolds, of Ithaca, NY; grandchildren, Tanya Burdick (Garrett) of San Rafael, CA, Tara Burkhart-Grove (Jason) of Hayward, CA, Todd Grove (Diane) of Orlando, FL, Velvet Wilder (Michael) of Harwich, MA, D. Edward Grove of Utica, NY, Stephen Grove of Sauquoit, NY, Matthew Grove (Elissa Johnson) of Utica, NY, Nancy Grove (Pete Bianco) of Sauquoit, NY, Kristin Siekmann (Steve) of Lancaster, NY, Amy Beckhorn (Jon) of Hector, NY; 14 adoring great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Doris was preceded in death by husbands, F. Wheeler Grove, II and Clifford Eaton; two sisters, Ruth Bonner (Marvin) and Lida Westervelt (Paul/Pete); five brothers, John Reynolds (Catharine), Carl Reynolds (Elsie), Charles Reynolds (Eleanor), Frank Reynolds, and Jim Reynolds (Agnes); two sons, John W. Grove and C. Edward Grove; grandson, Terry Grove, and many more close relatives and friends.

The family is planning a celebration of Doris’s life at the Annual Poplar Beach Flotilla, with a private burial at Grove Cemetery in Trumansburg, NY at a later date.

The family asks those that would like to make a contribution in Doris’s memory to kindly consider the John Grove Memorial Fund (c/o Bless the Children) that supports the John Grove High School in the Mico Quemado mountain region of Honduras.  Memorial contributions can be made on-line or sent to Bless the Children, Inc., 1610 Rachel Court, Clearwater, FL 33756.   Mailed checks should be made out to "Bless the Children.”  Please indicate that your donation is for the John Grove Memorial Fund (JGMF).  100% of your donation will go to support the school. For more information regarding this organization and the John Grove High School go to https://www.blessthechildreninc.org/index.cfm?page=JohnGroveMemorialFund