Julie Eaton

Julie A. Eaton, died on March 13 2012 surrounded by family and loved ones.

Julie moved to Anchorage in 1969 and started a career as an artist painting pastels. In the late 70's she established an equestrian riding school, a family-run small business that has been a large part of the community since its inception. She had a love of life and animals that she instilled in many over the years.

Her contributions to the community were numerous from serving on municipal boards such as the Animal Control Board and the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission to serving on boards on a state and national level of several horse organizations. She worked hard in the 1980's to get a public equestrian park built at Ruth Arcand Park which is still a focal point of the Anchorage equestrian community. Most recently her efforts were put into raising donations for the Alaska Hunter Jumper Association Inc. annual benefit horse show which has donated thousands of dollars to organizations such as St. Jude Children's Hospital and local organizations such as Stone Soup Group, Covenant House, AWAIC, McKinnell House and Eva Foundation. She wanted her students to recognize the importance of charitable activities and community.

On a personal level she was a mentor to many. When an accident left her paralyzed 15 years ago she continued to do what she loved and what she had always done, working with animals and teaching. There have been various students over the 30 years of her teaching career that took away something, not only from that day, but life lessons as well. One of her former students put it this way:

"She taught me how to truly love riding horses, instilled my lasting work ethic and to never ever give up on anything. I'm so grateful to have known this woman and to have learned so much from her. She is someone who will always be a part of me, forever."

She is survived by her daughters Britta Eaton and Dana Eaton Enz, her son-in-law Michael Enz, her mother Rosemary Klumpp, her brother Irving "Rick" Klumpp Jr. and her sisters Christine Fix, Amy Walker, Liz Logan and Meg Chambers. She is preceded in death by her father Irving Klumpp and her sister Marie Terese "Tese" Klumpp Bell .

An informal gathering will be held at Eaton Equestrian Centre on March 25th from 1-5 pm.

Anyone who cannot attend but wishes to participate in the gathering can email a memory that will be shared with others to Julie@eatonequestrian.com In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people donate to the AHJA Inc. (3315 Knik Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99517) to assist its efforts in future fundraising activities for local causes.