Zelwin B. Eaton, 82, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri.
He was born on June 23, 1943 on a farm near Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, the son of Zetho E. and Mildred I. Lindahl Eaton. He moved to a farm near Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa with his parents in 1949. He attended public schools in Mexico, Missouri, and a rural school in Lucas County, Iowa and graduated from Chariton Community High School in Chariton, Iowa. He received a congressional appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, later graduating with a Bachelor of Science, a Degree in Education and a Degree in Geography and a Masters of Arts Degree in Secondary Administration from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri. On December 26, 1969 in Kirksville, Missouri he was united in marriage to Jacquelyn C. Sykes and they made their home in East Wall Street in Kirksville, Missouri.
Zel's career began at the Kirksville Senior High School from 1967 until 1970. He was then employed for 29 years in higher education with Northeast Missouri State University and later Truman State University, retiring with the rank of Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. At various
times during his career in higher education he served as Assistant Director of Housing, Lieutenant (Investigator) in the Department of Public of Safety as well as Acting Director of that Department, Greek Coordinator, and Assistant Director of Testing Services. Mr. Eaton served as President of the Northeast Missouri State College chapter of Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity and was an undergraduate member of Blue Key Honor Fraternity. He was also a member of Pi Kappa Psi Social Fraternity. He held a membership in the Northeast Missouri Peace Officers Association, and was an Endowment Life member of the National Rifle Association. Mr. Eaton was a longtime member and honorary Colonel in the Confederate Air Force, later known as the Commemorative Air Force. The brethren of Adair Lodge No. 366 A∴F∴ & A∴M∴ were deeply saddened to learn that Right Worshipful Brother Zelwin B. Eaton laid down his working tools in the early morning hours of July 8th , 2025, to never again labor with us in the quarries, but instead to enter that House not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton’s Masonic record was one of significance. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry in Adair Lodge on November th , 1971 A∴D∴ | 5971 A∴L∴. He was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on September 5th , 1972, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on October 10 th , 1972. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton served as Worshipful Master of Adair Lodge in 1984-1985. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton was a Masonic writer of note; a career that culminated, in many respects, as the Editor of The Freemason magazine from 1997 to 2006. The Freemason magazine is the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton also wrote a number of Short Talk Bulletins for the Masonic Service Association of North America on such diverse topics as “The Investigating Committee” and “Masonic Funeral Planning.” He assisted M∴W∴B∴ Dale C. Motter, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, 1993-1994, with completing the “Rusty Nail” degree by typing its first draft while serving on the Education Committee for the Grand Lodge during its creation. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton was a member of the Philalethes Society as well as a recipient and member of the Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget-Me-Not. For the Grand Lodge, R∴W∴B∴ Eaton served as Fraternal Correspondent from 1991 until 2009: a position previously held by M∴W∴B∴ Bruce H. Hunt, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, 1960-1961, for roughly twenty-five years. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton also served as District Deputy Grand Master for the Second Masonic District from 1996 to 1999. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton then served on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. During his tenure on the Development Committee, the Masonic Home launched the Truman Club: a successful fundraising society that continues to this day. Additionally, R∴W∴B∴ Easton served as the Grand Representative from the Grand Lodge to the Gran Logia del Estado de Sinaloa (Grand Lodge of the State of Sinaloa) in Mexico. During his time as DDGM, and also while serving as Editor of The Freemason, RWB Eaton served as Worshipful Master of the Missouri Lodge of Research. In 2005, he became only one of fifteen Missouri Freemasons to be named a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research, joining the ranks of Masonic legends such as M∴W∴B∴ Ray V. Denslow, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, 1931-1932, and M∴W∴B∴ Hunt. In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, Bro. Eaton became a Master of the Royal Secret by receiving the 32° in the Valley of Columbia, Orient of
Missouri, on May 4th , 1973 A∴D∴ | 5733 A∴M∴. Bro. Eaton served the Valley of Columbia as Master of Kadosh for the Columbia Council of Kadosh. Bro. Eaton became only the sixth Life Member of the Valley of Columbia Scottish Rite on March 16th , 1998. He was also a Life Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. In the American or York Rite of Freemasonry, Companion and Sir Knight Eaton was exalted to
the degree of the Royal Arch in Caldwell Chapter No. 53 Royal Arch Masons (R∴A∴M∴); greeted as a Royal and Select Master in Kirksville Council No. 44 Royal and Select Masters (R∴ & S∴M∴); and made a knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in Ely Commandery No. 22 Knights Templar (K∴T∴), all on May 12th , 1973 A∴D∴ | 2503 A∴I∴ | 2973 A∴Dep∴ | 855
A∴O∴. Sir Knight Eaton served as Director of the Work for numerous York Rite Festivals in Kirksville over the years, creating an indispensable guide for the conferral of the degrees and orders that is used to this day by his fellow Companions and Sir Knights. For his labors in the York Rite, Companion Eaton received the Lewis and Clark Award for Region One from the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Missouri for 2001-2002. Additionally, Companion and Sir Knight Eaton was a member of several appendant bodies of the York Rite, including St. Chrysostom Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, and the Missouri College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. On June 7th , 1975 A∴D∴, R∴W∴B Eaton crossed the hot sands of the desert to be created a Noble in the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A∴A∴O∴N∴M∴S∴, or Shriners International) in Moila Temple, St. Joseph, MO. R∴W∴B∴ Eaton also served on the Board of Directors for the Masonic Temple Association of Kirksville for many years, and was a Life Member of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Zel served on the Board of Directors of the Kirksville Kiwanis Club as Secretary for several years and was Distinguished Secretary in the Missouri Arkansas District of Kiwanis in 1991. Zel was a life member and Charter member of the Board of Directors of Shark hunters International. He served three terms of the Kirksville Planning and Zoning Commission, one term on the Board of Adjustments, one term on the Board of the Kirksville Housing Authority, served out an un-expired term on the Board of the Adair County Ambulance District and Water shed Management Commission.
He was a member of the First Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church in Kirksville, Missouri. After his retirement he worked part time at the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, Missouri. On November 8, 2023, in Kirksville, Missouri, Zel married Debra Johnson.
Zel is survived by his wife, Debra Johnson of Kirksville, Missouri; and dear friends, Jeff and Gail Doss of Edina, Missouri, and Brad and Cris Sevier of St. Geneive, MO; along with numerous in laws and out laws on the Sykes side of the family and friends throughout northeast Missouri.
He was proceeded in death by his wife, Jacquelyn Sykes Eaton; parents, Zethro and Mildred Eaton; and a brother, Zeldon E. Eaton.
A Celebration of Zel’s life will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.
A Masonic Service will also be Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral Home.
Friends may greet the family on Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. An expression of sympathy in memory of Zelwin Eaton may be left to the Adair County Humane Society or the Masonic Lodge of Kirksville, Missouri. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Travis-Noe Funeral Home 1008 Potter Avenue, Kirksville, Missouri 63501.