Mary Benson Eaton

Mary Benson Eaton, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, unexpectedly left us on January 1, 2022. She was 75 years old. 

Mary was born Mary Andrea Benson on April 17, 1946 in Coral Gables, Florida, to parents Kenneth and Anita Benson.  She shared her home with her sisters Anita and Barbara, and her brother Kenny. Their mother would sew handmade matching Easter dresses for them. They each attended Coral Gables High School, and each swam for the Metro Miami swim team, which would train at the landmark Venetian Pool. 

After graduating high school in 1965, she moved to Pensacola, Florida and obtained a degree as a dental hygienist from Pensacola Junior College. While in Pensacola, she met a dashing naval aviator named Joel Eaton who happened to have graduated from Gables High along with Anita. Joel swept her off her feet by taking her flying on their second date. They were married on June 24, 1967, but had to delay their honeymoon as Joel was being deployed to Vietnam.  They were finally able to go on a honeymoon to Hong Kong during Joel’s first combat tour, where Mary caught the mumps, and described herself as looking like a chipmunk. 

In 1972, after Joel completed two tours of duty in Vietnam, Mary and Joel moved to Boston, Massachusetts so Joel could attend law school. While there, Mary gave birth to their first son, Douglas, in 1972. After Joel graduated in 1975, the young couple returned to their native Miami to begin their lives as parents. It was a role to which Mary gave every ounce of her being.  Douglas was joined by his brothers Darryl in 1976 and David in 1979. 

Mary’s love of and devotion to her “3 D’s,” as she called them, were without measure. Her children wanted for nothing and enjoyed the most fun and carefree childhood any child could ask for.  They have fond memories of annual trips to Disney World, to the River House of Joel’s parents, and after 1979, summers spent at their home on Beech Mountain, North Carolina.  Beech Mountain became Mary’s happy place, and she would eventually end up spending almost half of each year in her beloved mountains, welcoming as many family and friends as she could fit in the house. 

Mary’s boys were not the only beneficiaries of her love and generosity of spirit. Mary loved being a mother, so much so that she became a second mother to many of her sons' friends, and even some of their ex-girlfriends. Once you became a part of her family, you stayed a part of her family.  

Mary began a second career as a volunteer in 1983 for Informed Families of Dade County, working with her dear friend Peggy Sapp to help prevent drug use amongst children. In 1985, she started the annual fundraiser at Joe’s Stone Crab that has become a storied Miami tradition.

Once Mary and Joel became empty nesters, Mary filled the nest again with dogs, cats, and birds.  She could always be counted on to serve as a foster for rescued cats, who, more often than not, ended up losing the foster tag. She doted on her dogs like she doted on her children, and they, in turn, provided her with great joy. 

Mary was a bright shining star, who brought warmth and love to all who encountered her. The world is a diminished place in her absence. She will be dearly missed.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Kenneth and Anita Benson, and her brother Kenneth Benson. She is survived by Joel, Douglas, Darryl and David; their wives Molly, Isa, and Erin, whom she loved as if they were her own daughters; her grandchildren, Jack and Grace, Samuel, Otis and Story, and Cylar; her sisters and best friends, Anita Young (Wade) and Barbara Taylor (Ken); her mother-in law, Pat Eaton; her sisters-in-law Janet Eaton Sherr (Brian) and Morgana MacVicar; her nieces Caroline, Christine, Joelle, Nicole, Alexa, Elise and Mallerie; and finally, her constant companions, two Maltese dogs named Mitzi and Henry. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary’s honor to Informed Families, The Susan G. Komen Foundation of Dade and Broward County, or Pilots ‘N Paws.  Links are available here. 

Per her request, the family will be holding a private memorial service for her.  In the future, when they can safely do so, the family will be hosting a celebration of her life.  Check back here for the date.