Arthur Paul Eaton

Arthur Paul Eaton-AKA Oakie Art-passed away on January 7 at his home in Watsonville California at the age of 86.

He leaves behind his wife Tracy Eaton, and four children, David Eaton, Liz Evans, Carolyn Eaton and Chloe Eaton. He was preceded in death by his fourth daughter Teri Susan Jarrett.

Art also had 10 grandchildren: Payton and Dana Evans, Kyle, Jackson and Miles Eaton, Thomas and Charley Jarrett, Matt Kittle, Alex Eaton-Campbell and Sarah Manfredi, and four great grandchildren-Quincy, Arianna, Lucas and Michael-some of whom he never had the chance to meet.

He will be remembered for his love of racing. In fact, he won the first ever race at the Watsonville Speedway in 1960. Even in his later years, he continued to own and ride a Harley, and when his father died, he strapped his dad's ashes to the back of his motorcycle and took him for a ride to Fort Bragg, a beloved place where his dad spent a good deal of his free time.

Not surprising, Art's Harley-riding antics, often through the Bar (Whiskey Hill), got him into trouble on occasion. As a result, an accountant in town who had the same name as him, once offered Art a one-way ticket to anywhere, as long as he didn't return, saying Art was bad for business.

Art also had a passion for sailing, boating and camping in the summer, often taking his kids with him. And in the wintertime, trips to the family cabin in MiWuk Village to ski at Dodge Ridge and enjoy an occasional snowy Christmas.

In his younger years, Art worked for C and V Farms, driving trucks and working in the fields, making many friends and learning Spanish along the way. He also owned and operated Portola Auto Wreckers for years, where he was forever helping people out fixing and towing their cars, or trading them in for parts.

In the later years, many in Watsonville returned these favors by helping Art with cars, dropping off wood for the winter, driving him around, or just letting him invade their produce docks for fruits and veggies.

On behalf of Art, we thank you for that. You will be remembered for your kindness. He thought of you all as family and made him feel important.

Art loved going to The Villager at 10:30 a.m. for his daily coffee, sometimes spiked with Bailey's, at the 4:30 Villager Bar stop. It was sad when COVID forced him to change his daily routine.

One of Art's weaknesses was animals, namely cats and dogs. One time, the family counted 28 cats and kittens. He was forever bringing them home and had a special way with them. All animals seemed to love him, as well. He had a daily outing to McDonald's for pancakes before heading to feed the spayed feral cats in the neighborhood until they recovered.

There will be a private family service followed by a Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 21 from 4-6 p.m. at The Villager (1032 E Lake Ave. Watsonville, California). All are invited. Come early and stay late, share a story or two, and have a drink and some food.

If you're not able to make it, you can contact Art's family at: Eaton Family, PO Box 17, Freedom, California 95019

Published in The Pajaronian · January 19, 2023