Neelyville bids farewell to Eakins

Neelyville R-4 School staff and students along with community members are planning Friday to honor the late Anthony “Tony” Wade Eakins by wearing overalls and/or hunter orange.

Eakins was 58 when he passed away on Oct. 22, 2022 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center

Neelyville Superintendent Heather Black said, “Mr. Tony was a dedicated loyal member of the Neelyville Tiger family who always had a smile on his face and a story to tell to brighten the day of every faculty member, teacher, and student he encountered. Mr. Tony will be greatly missed.”

The idea for wearing overalls and hunter orange was the culmination of a conversation with school administration and a few faculty members since Eakins was known for his coveralls and love of hunting.

In announcing his death to the school, Black said, “Mr. Tony has been a valued member of Neelyville School District since 1999 serving as the mechanic, a bus driver and helped with summer maintenance throughout the years.”

As high school social studies teacher Chester Hurt shared, there is too much to say about Tony.

“My favorite memories of Tony are from him driving my classes to the Holocaust Museum in St. Louis,” Hurt said. “He would sit and listen to the survivors speak right along with the students. All the way back to Neelyville, Tony and I would discuss the Holocaust and all of the experiences the survivor shared. Tony was always so curious about history and many other topics. It was a true joy getting to spend that time with him each year.”

While Eakins drove on many of the school trips and high school social studies teacher Brandi Lumby shares, “he always did so with a smile. It didn’t matter if we were leaving super early or getting home super late, you would never know it by his demeanor. He loved his school and he loved the students. Neelyville will not be the same without his smiling face and bubbly enthusiasm.”

Bookkeeper/bus driver Kim Toth said Tony was “one of a kind. He will be missed.”

Becky Hale is the high school physical education teacher and girls basketball coach.

“Mr. Tony was a great example of what it means to put God first in your life,” Hale said. “His family was very important to him and he made us all feel that we were an extension of that. He had a positive impact on everyone he met. We will miss his never-ending shenanigans and so thankful we knew him and loved him.”

Jessica Newcomb, high school business teacher, recalls on Friday, Oct. 21, he drove the kindergarten kids to Pumpkin Hollow for their field trip.

“As I watched them pile off the bus, Mr. Tony was so enthusiastic with the kids getting them amped up for their big day,” Newcomb said. “Later that day, my daughter told me that Mr. Tony reminded her of Santa Claus because he was ‘so jolly.’ Little did he know the impact he would leave on those kindergartners.”

The next day, Eakins passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Black said he was “a wonderful asset to our district and leaves a great legacy in our school family.”

In his obituary, his family said, along with enjoying his mechanic work, he enjoyed “fishing, hunting, being with his grandchildren, and being the community Santa.”