Graveside services for Sharon “Gayle” Eakins, a Lehigh, OK resident, were held Friday, September 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Lehigh Cemetery in Lehigh, OK with arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka, OK.

Ms. Eakins was born September 13, 1943 to John “Jack” and Winna (Barrow) Workman at Bowie, TX and passed away September 15, 2026 at Coalgate, OK at the age of 83 years and 2 days. Gayle’s father was a career Navy member during her early years, that required the family to move several times between assignments.

One such assignment was a tour of duty in the Philippines. After her father retired from the Navy, the family settled in Wichita Falls, TX where Gayle attended and graduated from Wichita Falls High School. She was a housewife and homemaker. Gayle also worked at several jobs and supervisory positions until 1983 when she married her long time friend, James “Jim” Eakins who had recently retired from the Air Force and started a second career working for a government contractor on Altus Air Force Base, Altus, OK.

They enjoyed 43 loving years together before her passing. After Jim’s second retirement in 1997, the couple moved to Jim’s old home place, west of Lehigh, OK.

Gayle loved to fix things, landscape and garden. Her favorite past time was camping, fishing and cooking out with family and friends at their property on lake Eufaula. She will be missed by many.

Survivors include her husband, James “Jim” Eakins of the home in Lehigh; daughter, Toni Lyn Eakins of Lehigh, OK; daughter-in-law, Jeni Speer of Altus, OK; along with numerous grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, other relatives and many dear and loved friends.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.