Christine Eaves lost her husband, Gary Eaves, a devoted father of three—Dekon, Windsor, and Lane Eaves, stepfather to Aaron Milton—on Monday morning. Gary passed away at the age of only 56. He was a pillar of his community and country, serving as a canine officer in Berkeley, MO, and dedicating years of his life to training police and security forces in Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. Most recently, he worked as a detective at Bonne Terre Prison, always striving to make a difference in the lives of others.

Christine and Gary were married for 22 years. In July of 2025, Gary suffered a terrible car accident that left his leg broken in multiple places and confined him to a wheelchair. Christine became his caregiver, helping him with daily tasks and spending every evening together watching the sunset. Her love and dedication were unwavering, even as they faced new challenges together. The sudden loss of Gary has left Christine with many unplanned funeral expenses, adding financial stress to an already heartbreaking time.

Any support you could give to Christine during this difficult time would mean the world to us. The loss of a loved one in this way has been so hard for everyone in our family, and if we could come together to make sure that Christine doesn’t have added financial stress during this time, that would help so much. Your kindness and generosity will help honor Gary’s memory and support Christine as she navigates this difficult journey.