Roll Call Tribute

New Hope Funeral Home obituary
500 East Hwy. 80
Sunnyvale, TX 75182
Telephone: (972) 226-2111
Email: info@newhopefh.com

James, [Leah] & Luke Eason
June 25, 2011

James (Jim) Stephenson Eason, Leah Compton Eason, and Luke Erikson Eason, of Rockwall, TX were involved in a fatal car accident on June 25, 2011. Jim, age 30, born September 11, 1980; Leah, age 30, born March 30, 1981; and Luke, age 1, born on June 9, 2010. Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents. Leah was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Darrell Compton, Sr., and Lee Roy Smith, her great grandfather, Ralph Smith, her great grandmothers, Bessie Smith, and Patsy Maxine Southard, her uncle, Richard Lee Smith. Left to cherish their memory is their precious son, Jace Eason (4); Leah's mother and father, Darrell and Vickie Compton, Jim's mother and stepfather, Ellen and Tom Dortch, Jim's father, Thomas Eason; Leah's grandparents, Patsy Smith Wells, step grandfather, Richard Wells; Dorothy June Compton; Leah's brother, Brad (& Becca) Compton; nephews, Austin and Cooper Compton; Leah's aunt's; Tammi (& Jeff) Schmitt, Ginger Smith, Vickie Yates Smith, Penny (&Tim) Taylor; Leah's uncle; Ralph (& Karen) Compton; Leah's cousins, Taylor and Jessi Schmitt; Alexis Novey; Kyle and Lyndsey and Charlotte Smith; Casey (& Kimberly) Blair, Kristina (& Tommy) Bell; Courtney (& Matt) DeWitt; Kayla Travis; and Lyndsey Edwards; and numerous extended family members. Leah Michelle Compton was horn on March 30, 1981, to Vickie and Darrell Compton. Leah attended Mesquite High School and graduated from Texas A&M University, an Aggie at heart. She was currently an assistant principal at Florence Black Elementary in Mesquite. Leah was such a caring, loving, and compassionate mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Everything she enjoyed doing she did with great enthusiasm. She was a soccer player during her high school years. Anyone that knew and loved Leah know how much she enjoyed her books and TV shows and one of her favorite hobbies was shopping. Everyone also knows she lived her life daily with the attitude of “don’t sweat the small stuff!” Ultimately, the most important thing in Leah’s life was her family and being a mother to her children. Her boys were precious to her and she spent every minute taking care of them. We love her so much and cherish each & every memory from the time she was born until her last day with us. Jace and Luke were the love of her life and she will be the “shining star in the sky”. Jim Eason was born September 11, 1980 in Houston, Texas to Thomas Richard and Ellen (Dein) Eason. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from Richardson Pearce High School. Jim was a very active child and loved playing all sports. He particularly excelled as a baseball pitcher and earned a baseball scholarship to attend Baker University (KS) as a freshman. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas, and received a Masters in Education from Lamar University several years later. Jim joined the Mesquite ISD first teaching special education at Mesquite High School and coaching the freshman baseball team. He next applied to teach 5th grade at B.J. Smith Elementary. When asked in that interview why he would want to change to the lower grade level, he explained that so many kids had already given up by high school and he wanted to be able to help them at an age when he could still try to be a positive influence on their learning. He got the job, and found his professional passion. He loved his fifth graders, and they loved him back! Jim met Leah while in college and Leah for the rest of his life. They gained maturity together and it was heart-warming to see them grow even closer together as a couple and as parents. Jim and Leah eagerly welcomed Jace into their family on July 11, 2006 and Luke on June 9, 2010. Jim absolutely loved being a father to his two sons. He could not have picked a better mother for his children, and with Leah’s gentle guidance immediately realized he’d found his soul mate. They brought out the best in each other. They were married in a beautiful and happy ceremony on November 20, 2004. Jim continued to be smitten with he was an excellent father who spent endless hours playing with and caring for both boys. His life revolved around his family. He especially enjoyed cooking and enjoyed trying new recipes and preparing meals for his family and friends. Jim and Leah both had a quick and wonderful sense of humor. Jim loved telling funny stories with an impeccable sense of timing, and kept family and friends on their toes to see what he would do next. In addition to their family each had a wide network of friends, keeping up with his group of guy friends and her group of girlfriends and also adding new close friends wherever they went. He and Leah developed a wonderful balance in their lives between being together as a couple, as a family, with friends and as professionals. They were truly blessed and a blessing to others. Luke Eason was born June 9, 2010 to James Stephenson & Leah (Compton) Eason. He was very eagerly welcomed into the family not only by his parents but also by big brother Jace along with the rest of his extended family. Luke was a sweet, healthy baby who was very calm and easy-going. He loved eating and quickly grew into a roly-poly baby with big, fat cheeks. He smiled easily and often and between his parents, older brother, extended family and friends and a wonderful caretaker, Luke had a very happy life. As he grew, Luke aspired to do everything that Jace did and tried to follow his brother wherever he went, first by rolling over and over, next by crawling on very chubby little arms and legs, soon after he learned about climbing the stairs and most recently he mastered running which was, of course, the most efficient means of all of keeping up. Precious baby Luke spent only a short time with us. From the day he was born he was our baby boy. Luke had his daddy’s personality and his mom’s smile. His first birthday party was at Grandma Patsy’s house in the pool. He loved water and his big brother, Jace. He is now an angel with his mom and dad watching out for his big brother. Our family would like to thank the staff at Children’s Medical Center, Mt. Pleasant Hospital ER staff, Justice of the Peace Kay McNutt, and all the emergency personnel in Titus County that have helped us through this tragic event. Jim, Leah, and Luke will be missed dearly by their family and friends. We look forward to the day we will all be together again. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First State Bank of Mesquite with checks made payable to Vickie Compton svo Jace Eason.