Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin will be guest preacher for the Memorial Service.  

Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. She holds a Bachelors in Music Education and Psychology from MacMurray College; a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio; and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Illinois State University .

She was the founding pastor of Dayspring Native American United Methodist Church in East Peoria, IL. She is a contributing author of “We Hold Our Stories in Blankets” in Women out of Order: Risking Change and Creating Care in a Multicultural World, (2009)  and “Seeing Through American Indian Eyes” in Women With 2020 Vision, (2020), and in On this Spirit Walk (Henrietta Mann and Anita Phillips). 

She has been a frequent guest speaker at University classes, professional conferences , and as a Retreat Leader. Her journey has included raising two sons, serving as Return to Pimiteoui Pow Wow Director, 10 years as a Pastoral Counselor / psychotherapist, pastoring several local churches, assignment as a GBGM missionary in the United States, and 7 years as Superintendent of the Kaskaskia River District in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.  

From 2008-2012, Carol served as co-chair of the task force for the United Methodist Act of Repentance Toward Healing Relationships With Indigenous Peoples, which was launched ceremonially at the United Methodist General Conference 2012. 

Carol is currently co-director of MorningSky Leadership Initiative, engaged in coaching Native American ministries and pastors. Currently, MorningSky is engaged in a significant research project “Healing with Dignity, Spiritual Care in Native America.”   

She serves as chair of the NCJ Volunteers in Mission Board, serves on the NCJ CONAM and is on the board of the National Native American International Caucus of the UMC.
She is the faculty coordinator for the Native American Course of Study, a contextually relevant school, which prepares local pastors serving in Indian communities. 

Carol lives in Mt Vernon, IL, with her husband, Bill, a retired elder. She has one son Luke and a granddaughter Audrey, who is 12 years old.