Eileen Brewster Nelson

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Obituary

Eileen passed away peacefully in the afternoon of February 1, one day after celebrating her 100th birthday. Her family was able to spend time with her on her birthday and she was awake and seemed aware of their presence.

Eileen started life in rural Idaho and spent her pre-school years in Homedale with her parents and sister Pauline, who was 13 months younger. Pauline was a cherished friend her entire life. The family moved to Boise when the girls started school. During these years she loved swimming, skiing and dancing. She was a lifeguard at the Natatorium, a large swimming pool in Boise. During her high school and college years, WW2 was happening. With an airbase nearby in Mountain Home, she and her sister enjoyed attending dances at the base and socializing with the troops. She also sold war bonds during this time (picture below). Eileen graduated from the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1948 with a major in sociology and a minor in physical education.

When the war ended, she got reacquainted with Roger Nelson when he returned from serving in the Pacific. She always said she had been in love with him since 7th grade. They married on August 22, 1948. Both were 22 years old. They moved to Boulder, Colorado for Roger to pursue a graduate degree in Civil Engineering. She loved their life in Boulder, living in a small trailer in a trailer court filled with vets working on their degrees. There were many young wives to socialize with. In November 1953 her first child, Pam (Pamela Carol), was born.

The next phase of Eileen’s life took place in Pullman, Washington where Roger was hired to teach at the University (Washington State College at the time) and where they lived until 2007. Soon after arriving she and Roger starting planning their first home, working with an architect to plan and design the whole thing. Then she helped Roger build it – it took eight years. They broke ground the same month Eileen gave birth to her second child, Jan (Janet Lee). Four years later her third child Bart (Bart Brewster) was born. Then six years later a fourth, Mark (Mark Roger), was born.

Eileen loved being active in the community. She became involved in the Methodist Church, leading the youth group and attending regularly (dragging Roger and kids along). Eileen was creative and crafty, creating Halloween costumes, treasure hunts, beautifully wrapped gifts. She took a sewing class and made clothes for her kids (something people did in those days). She took an upholstery class and reupholstered several furniture pieces. She joined Toastmasters to learn to compose and deliver speeches. She belonged to the PTA and was the Campfire Girls leader for both Pam and Jan’s groups. She wrote a screenplay for a family movie called “Get Dumb.” Mark, as a newborn baby, played the role of “Chief.” In all, she gave her family a rich life.

Eileen was curious about other people and places, and loved traveling. She was the planning and the energy behind several cross-country road trips with her family of six stuffed in a station wagon. One trip even involved camping along the way. She was a great organizer and could load up the car with everything needed to camp and eat along the way. And, of course, she made sure they stopped at every historical site, roadside attraction and national park.

After becoming empty-nesters Eileen and Roger visited Australia/New Zealand with Pauline and Gene (her brother-in-law). And she began researching her roots, studying both her and Roger’s genealogy. She took trips to Europe with her sister Pauline to search their roots in England and Ireland. This was an avid interest of hers for many years.

Eileen and Roger purchased a timeshare in Montana and started taking trips to various nearby locations as get-a-ways, which satisfied her love of traveling and exploring new places.

In 2007 Eileen and Roger left Pullman and moved to Issaquah, Washington to be closer to their children. Eileen had begun to show signs of dementia a few years earlier and Roger’s heart was giving him trouble. After a short couple years in an apartment, they moved to assisted living where Roger died in 2012. Eileen continued in assisted living until her death.

Sadly, Eileen and Roger lost two of their children: Pam in 1986 and Mark in 2014. She is survived by her daughter Jan and son Bart, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She often said that they had a good life and she had no complaints. She was an optimistic and good-natured soul and will be terribly missed.

Note: Tap on photos below to enlarge and see explanation.

Gallery

Memory wall

Service