THOMAS "TIM" EASON

Thomas A. Eason -Indian Harbour Beach - Thomas A. "Tim" Eason, longtime resident of South Brevard and former Mayor of Indian Harbour Beach, died on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 4:20 p.m., following an extended illness. Tim was born in Nashua, NH August 21, 1917, and was a participating member of "The Greatest Generation". An aerospace pioneer, Eason is the former superintendent of Communications Engineering Projects at Patrick Air Force Base. He was a member of the National Missile Ranges Planning Board, which was responsible for the early planning of all communications systems in the space program. Tim was a political activist in his early years. He was active in the Democratic party at the Brevard County level. He was selected by the J.F. Kennedy election committee to be Brevard County Chairman of the committee to elect J.F.K. Shortly after moving to Indian Harbour Beach from Eau Gallie in 1960, Eason was selected to fill a vacant spot on the city commission. At the following election he was again selected to be a Councilman. He served on the City Council as Councilman, Mayor/Councilman. After leaving the city Council he served on the City Planning and Zoning Board. An active church worker as well, he is Past President of the Holy Name Society, chairman of the building fund for the Holy Name of Jesus parish, founder and chairman of the South Brevard Sharing Center, former chairman of the Florida Bishop's Committee on Aid to Education, a former member of the Orlando Diocesan Investment Committee, former chairman of the Orlando Diocese Pastoral Council, and was commissioned a Eucharistic Minister by the Bishop of Orlando in 1974. For his unselfish work in Catholic scouting, Eason was awarded the St. George Medal by Bishop Thomas J. Grady, Bishop of Orlando. He joined the Knights of Columbus through Father Gabriel Council 1946 in Melbourne, FL and was elected Grand Knight two years later. He subsequently served as District Deputy, State Treasurer, State Program Chairman, and served in the office of State Deputy (CEO) of Florida from 1967-1969. At the 1969 KOC National Convention in Anaheim, CA, Eason was the first Florida Knight to be elected to the International Board of Directors. He served on that Board until August 31, 1980. In September 1979, Tim was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher by then Pope John Paul II. Interested in literacy, he was a former member and Chairman of the South Brevard County Literacy Society. In this work he became a Master Tutor and was a Certified Tutor Trainer. He is a former member of The Mended Hearts, a support group for all who have had open heart surgery and served as Vice President, President, and continued as an active past President. Tim also served our country in the U.S. Navy in World War II and the Korean War as a communications intelligence specialist. He is a former member of the U.S. Navy Cryptological Society, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, the former Mary Campo of Danbury, CT; son, Thomas, Jr., (Michelle), daughters, Ellen Eason (David) Roussel, Mary Pat Eason (Larry) Laskowski and Anne Eason (Mark) Ellis, all living in South Brevard; 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 - 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 16th with the Wake service at 7 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name of Jesus, Thursday, December 17th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Tim requested all donations to go to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL. 32903, or South Brevard Sharing Center, 17 E. Hibiscus Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901. Condolences may be made to www.beachfuneralhome.com.