The Quilts of Lillie Eaton

An extraordinary exhibit featuring 20 quilts from the collection of Lillie Eaton. From award winning Hoffman Challenge quilts, to those hand stitched with love and expert skill – it’s an exhibit you won’t want to miss.

Lillie D. Hutchings Eaton was born January 11, 1928, the daughter of Lester Noel Hutchings and Bessie Jewel Sharp in Fairview, Missouri. Lillie attended Fairview Elementary and Fairview High School, graduating in 1945 with honors. Lillie grew up during WW2 and spent most of her summers working at Camp Crowder.

Lillie married Walter Eaton February 25^th, 1945, in Columbus, KS. “Bud” returned from Japan after the war. Lillie and Bud spent a year in both Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX, Lillie then moved to Joplin, MO to start their family. Their first born, Dr. Timothy Eaton arrived in 1953, three daughters Claudia in 1955, Jan in 1961 and Marta in 1963. Lillie attended MSSC and graduated in 1971 with a Secondary Education Degree.  In the fall of 1971 Lillie began teaching at Parkwood High School as a Social Studies teacher. In 1978 Lillie received her Master of Science Degree from Pittsburg State University.  In the spring of 1988, 60 year old Lillie retired from teaching after 21 years to spend her retirement with her beloved husband.

Lillie had a variety of interests including genealogy, quilting, history, and travel. Bud and Lillie spent 20 years traveling to 49 states, Great Britain and took 3 cruises together.  Lillie went on 4 mission trips to Romania and Albania and took a Mediterranean Cruise with her youngest daughter, Marta.

Lillie began quilting at an early age of 11 and it became a lifetime passion. Spending the summer at her Grandparents home while they were ill, she spent most of her time in her grandmothers quilting room. After retirement, she became more focused on quilting. She took quilting lessons from Betty Bridges. When she completed her first Baltimore Album Quilt, she fell in love with applique. In 2009 Lillie entered the prestigious Hoffman Challenge for the first time and her entry was chosen to travel with the trunk show. Her entries were also chosen to travel for the next 6 years for a total of 7 years. Those entries are included in this exhibit.

Lillie quilted with some of the best quilters in Missouri and Kansas, including Barbara Pipkin, Betty Bridges and many more. Lillie is a proud charter member of the Town and Country Quilt Guild established by Betty Bridges. Active throughout her life in quilting guilds and societies, Lillie belonged to the Pittsburg, KS Quilt Guild, the Ozarks Piece Makers Quilt Guild in Springfield, MO, the National Applique Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The amazing Lillie Eaton is 96 years young and has a love for quilting to this day.