Former Plumas County Assessor Ernest R. Eaton Jr., 89, passed away peacefully at home on May 15, 2024, after a long illness. Ernie was born on Aug. 22, 1934, in Danvers, Massachusetts, to Ernest Eaton and Francis Louise Ellis Eaton.
At age 17, he volunteered to join the U.S. Air Force, but instead of being sent to Korea as he had expected, he was stationed first on Kwajalein Atoll and then in Cambria, California. He married Marlene Smithers in September 1955 and was married to her until her tragic death in an automobile accident six months later. He mourned Marlene deeply, but when he met Rosanna Marie Crum, he realized he still had love to give, and he married her three weeks later on Dec. 22, 1956.
Ernie and Rose were married for 52 years until her death in September 2009. They had two sons, Ernest and Lester. The young family lived in Tehama and Colusa counties, where Ernie worked as an appraiser. They moved to Quincy in 1970, where he began working in the Plumas County Assessor’s Office as chief appraiser and assistant appraiser. Ernie was appointed Plumas County assessor in 1981, elected as assessor in 1982, and reelected three more times. He served as assessor until 1997, when he retired to care for Rose during her illness. He was proud to have never accepted a campaign donation during any of his campaigns for office.
Ernie believed very strongly that Plumas County is the most beautiful place on earth, and he volunteered in the Quincy community in many ways over the decades. He coached Little League when his sons were growing up and was dedicated to Quincy High School and Feather River College sports programs. For many years, Ernie ran football and basketball scoreboards at QHS and football scoreboards at FRC.
He was a faithful member of St. John Catholic Church, where he served for decades as a volunteer, including as head usher, lector, and eucharistic minister for mass and for the homebound. He used his considerable woodworking skills to build the church’s altar, lectern, holy week tabernacle, and Paschal candles, as well as the large mission cross that stands in front of the building. Ernie also played a role in bringing the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra to Quincy for many years and he served on the board of the East Quincy Community Services District.
Despite his incredible service to Plumas County, Ernie was defined most by his legacy of strong relationships with his family and friends. He was devoted to Rose and loved traveling with her. After her death, when he realized he once again still had love to give, he married Lynn Karge in October 2010, and was a devoted husband to her for 13 years until his death.
Ernie was incredibly proud of his sons Ernest and Lester and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Lynn and her family; his son Ernest and daughter-in-law Natalie; his son Lester and daughter-in-law Kim; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Ernie is also survived by a community of amazing friends who, in his final years, visited him every week for poker nights, coffee mornings and lunches.
A recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, at St. John Catholic Church in Quincy. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated for the repose of Ernie’s soul at 11:00 a.m. May 29, also at St. John Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Old Quincy Cemetery.
