Jan. 31, 1923 — Jan. 11, 2014

Mabuta A. Eager, age 90 years of Niles, Mich. died at 1:55 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. of natural causes.

She was born on Jan. 31, 1923 in Boulder, Colo. to Clarence W. and Ethel (Lane) Reeder, and was raised in Colorado. She taught at Adventist schools, in communities throughout the Midwest as she followed the pastorate of her former husband, the Rev. Kenneth V. Eager, Sr. to different congregations, retiring at 70 years old. She came to Niles in 1993 and continued as a substitute teacher and tutor until May of 2006 when she took her second retirement at the age of 83 years.

Mabuta was a member of the Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She enjoyed crochet, and reading about religion; but her greatest joy was teaching children.

She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth V. Eager, Jr. on April 10, 2009; a grandson, David A. Eager on January 12, 1990; and by two brothers, Eugene Reeder who died in childhood, and later, Merlin Reeder.

Surviving family includes a daughter, Nancy Rader of Niles; a daughter-in-law, Eleanor (Mrs. Kenneth) Eager of Niles; grandchildren Michelle (& Mark) Oliphant, Paul Eager, and Travis (& Patty) Rader; great-grandchildren Weston Eager and Wyatt Eager; and Matuba’s sister Elsie Reeder Russell of Laurel, Maryland and brother, Harold Reeder, D.O. at a mission post in Mexico, and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Mabuta Eager will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 at the Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Darrell le Roux of the church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

Contributions in memory of Mabuta may be made to the Niles Adventist School Worthy Student Fund. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com