Rich
That's awesome. I know you have had some great sporting clays shooting at Drakes...
Ferrell is a great guy and his stories are classics. He and Gary Lester both won the nationals as Amateurs... Quite a feat. To ad to this the great trainer/handler D Hoyle Eaton just passed and he was tied and very close to Ferrell running those great white dogs. Another legend passes.
D. Hoyle Eaton Passes
BOONEVILLE, MISS. — Dexter Hoyle Eaton, 90, passed away Tuesday, March 2, at his home.
Hoyle was born July 20, 1930, to Flake and Lois Eaton. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
His tenure as a professional bird dog trainer-handler spanned some fifty years, and he left an indelible mark on the field trial sport.
Hoyle handled dogs that won virtually every major stake, from Canada to the Deep South, including the National Championship with Riggins White Knight, Red Water Rex, Rex's Cherokee Jake and Miller's White Cloud. Dogs he handled won the coveted Purina Award six times.
Hoyle Eaton was elected to the Field Trial Hall of Fame in 1979 and he was joined there by four of his contenders — Riggins White Knight, Red Water Rex, Ormond Smart Alex and Miller's White Cloud.
It doesn't seem that long ago that he developed a young nearly all-white pointer he named Sir Lancelot, and the recollection of Lancelot's bid in the National Championship is surely still vivid for the many who witnessed it that sunny day on the afternoon course.
Hoyle was instrumental in the establishment to the Hell Creek Area near Blue Mountain, Miss., a venue for a number of leading trials.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Gwyn Maxwell Eaton; two sons, Joe David (Cherry) Eaton and Paul W. Eaton; two sisters, a brother, Dan (Cathy Frasier) Eaton; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and special caregiver, Jennifer Hancock.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters.
A Celebration of Life service was held Thursday afternoon, March 4, at McMillan Funeral Home with Bro. Ricky Bishop officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Memorial Park.
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