Laverne Mars Eakins, 68, of Karnack, Texas passed away Sunday afternoon, January 30, 2011 at Good Shepherd hospital in Longview, Texas with her family gathered at her bedside. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m., Saturday February 05, 2011 at Karnack United Methodist Church with a private family burial being held at a later date. Gracie (Laverne) Eakins was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on April 08, 1942 to Vannie Anderson Mars and Era Stephens Mars. She married James (Jimmy) Wiley Eakins on June 10, 1960 and they devoted their entire lives to each other. Laverne is survived by two sons, and daughter in law, Ricky and Misty Eakins of Karnack and James Randall Eakins of Lake O' The Pines; three daughters and sons in laws, Tammie Gail Eakins of Marshall, Regina and Leroy Moore of Jefferson and Brenda and Tommy Albright of Karnack; special daughter, Tina Harless of Karnack and special son-in-law, Mark Lay of Karnack. Also surviving Mrs. Eakins are two sisters, Laveeda Huff of Ft. Worth and Nancy Phillips of Pittsburg; two sisters- in- law, Sue Mars of Mt. Pleasant and Jeannie Garrett of Dallas; four brothers in law, Roland Bridges and Steve Garrett of Mt.Pleasant, Glen Eakins of Tyler and Dick Eakins of Richardson, TX. "Grannie" was a loving grandparent to eight grandchildren, (Steven) and Melissa Lay, (Thomas) and Daphne Lay, Craig and (Angie) Shipwash, Tabitha Eakins, Tisha Thompson, Mindy Moore, Sabrina Campbell and Brittany DuBois and eight great-grandchildren, Alise, Kyla and Layla Shipwash, Colten and Ethan Lay, Bradley and Christy Lay and Brooklynn DuBois. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband of 41 years, Jimmy Eakins, three brothers, Kenneth Mars, Charles (Buddy) Mars and William Mars, brothers-in-law, Charles Huff and Sammy Phillips, special niece, Jeannie Smith and her parents.