Eileen Carol Redman

Eileen was born in southeast Nebraska on November 25, 1914 and was raised in the small town of Crete. The daughter of a carpenter, she encountered early hardships with the death of her mother during the great flu epidemic of 1918. In those days, single men were rarely able to raise young children, so Eileen was cared for by her grandparents and a loving aunt, Betty Bookie Dillon Craine. As a young girl she loved the English language in both song and verse. She was a cheerleader and acted in school plays and became an accomplished musician; playing the piano, singing at weddings, and winning various vocal competitions.

Eileen graduated valedictorian from high school in Dorchester, Nebraska in 1932. She received a scholarship to a local college, but the call of the road and her independent nature drew her to Scottsbluff in Western Nebraska. She worked as a telephone operator and carried on a ?long distance romance? with her future husband, Herb Redman.

Shortly after her marriage in 1941, she followed in the tradition of her grandparents who had crossed the fields of the Midwest in a covered wagon, and moved to Seattle where her husband, Herb worked in the shipyards as a steamfitter. Great old family photos show Mom in her air-raid warden uniform during World War II. She also worked at the Department of the Interior through the end of the war.

Eileen and Herb were living in the Ballard neighborhood when their son, David was born.

Five years later, they settled into life in the Broadview neighborhood of North Seattle overlooking the Sound with its spectacular sunsets. Here Eileen was active in the PTA, cub scouts, and with fundraising for Broadview Elementary School. Her continued love for reading and literature led her to volunteer as librarian at Broadview School through the 1950?s. Eileen always seemed to be helping out somewhere, always encouraging the kids to answer their questions by reading about it. The world was expanding rapidly then; it was the time of Telstar and sputniks, and she would tell us that reading was the only way to reach the stars. Life was what you made of it she?d say.

As the demands of motherhood lessened, Eileen decided to reenter the workforce. This began her association with the Seattle Milk Fund, the second oldest charity in Seattle, founded in 1902. Expanding and organizing an office in downtown Seattle, she worked as the SMF office secretary from 1966 through 1972, when her husband, Herb passed away. The Seattle Milk Fund remained the central focus of her life following her retirement as secretary. She served in numerous offices over the years, including Trustee, Historian, two terms as recording secretary, and three years serving as Director of Case Investigation. In 1994, Eileen was presented with the Milk Fund?s ?Fruit and Flower Award? as the charity?s outstanding Member of the Year.

The accumulated experiences of over twenty-five years of volunteer service and the desire to share that experience with others helped keep Eileen motivated, active and of agile mind. Seattle Milk Fund was her life?s work - she was very proud of its accomplishments and of its ability to adapt to changing social and economic conditions.

Eileen remained socially active until just a few years ago. After the sale of her home, she moved to Brighton Court in Lynnwood. She especially enjoyed traveling to Victoria and Vancouver. She loved her cat, Noel, crossword puzzles, reading and her family. She will be greatly missed, but has left a legacy of love and caring for her friends, family and community.

Besides son Dave and his wife Debbie of Bothell, WA, Eileen is survived by her beautiful granddaughter, Alix, and three month old grandson, Brett. She is also survived by four half-sisters, Donna Donnally of Arlington, VA, Doris Carmen of Lompoc, CA, Jackie Shuemaker of Melbourne, FL and Marilyn Reiss of Crete, NE, as well as half- brother Bob Feeken of Cambridge, NE. Her best friend and sister-in-law, Ila Mae Menne of Ballard, WA also survives.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 PM at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home Chapel, 11111 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA on Friday, November 23, 2001. Remembrances and contributions can be sent to Seattle Milk Fund, 1130 N. Northgate Way, Seattle, WA 98133. Please sign an on-line memorial at www.evergreen-washelli.com