Eileen Regina Meyer

children on a farm in Lillis, Kansas. She passed away on September 2, 2023. Eileen will be remembered

by many for her hardworking and adventurous spirit.

Eileen attended Hayroof Grade School and Lillis High School in Marshall County, Kansas. She acquired a

love of learning from her school experiences. Upon graduation she went to work at Forbes Air Force

Base in Topeka, Kansas during World War II. After the end of World War II, she decided to be trained as a

teletype operator in Omaha, Nebraska. When she and 2 of her roommates finished their training, they

took jobs in Los Angeles, California with TWA. Her employer was none other than Howard Hughes. While

there she met different movie stars of the time. She always recalled Fred McMurray as a man of

kindness. After a couple of years, she returned to Lillis, Kansas to teach grade school at Hayroof Grade

School. She attended Kansas State University to receive her teaching certificate.

On October 15, 1949, Eileen was united in marriage to Gilbert (Gib) Meyer. They farmed and raised

Hereford cattle. During this time, 5 children were born to them. Eileen and Gib had huge gardens that

supplied all of the vegetables and fruit that their family needed for the year. Together they worked to

care for their children. One of their favorite pastimes was to take road trips throughout the United

States. Oh, the places they went.

The Catholic church was an important part of her life. She taught catechism at Coal Creek, Kansas in the

summer every year. She also ironed all the linens for St. Joseph Catholic Church at Lillis, Kansas. In 1965 Eileen taught at the Catholic school in Corning, Kansas. Two years later she would teach at the Catholic school in Frankfort, Kansas. Eileen was a member of the Daughters of Isabella at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Lillis, Kansas. At the St. Edward’s Catholic Church of Belleville, Kansas, she served on the Parish Council.

During the Spring of 1969, Eileen and Gib decided to return to Kansas State University to pursue degrees. Eileen received her Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Gib and Eileen moved to Belleville, Kansas in 1974. Eileen was hired by USD 427 to be their first speech pathologist. Later she

would work for the Teaching Cooperative based in Concordia, Kansas. During this time, she logged many

miles traveling to schools in Republic and Cloud Counties. There she met and made long- lasting friends.

She was a very dedicated speech pathologist. After retiring from her speech pathology career, she spent

2 years working on projects she had put off for years. Of course, after completing all of these, she took a

job with Republic County Farm Bureau. She remained there until the passing of her husband, Gib, on

September 2, 2000.

She was not sitting idle, though. At first, she would go to Dallas, Texas and stay with her daughter, Judy,

for months at a time. After 2 years she made a permanent move to Dallas. Once again, she became

involved in teaching children about the Catholic religion at St. Monica’s Catholic Church. During this time,

she embroidered and constructed beautiful quilts, a skill she had learned at a young age. Eileen was

always busy. In recent years she had slowed down a degree, but she always found something to occupy

her time and help others.

Eileen is survived by her five children: Judy Meyer of Dallas, TX; Mike (Kim) Meyer of Chesapeake, VA;

Jean (Charlie) Popelka of Belleville, KS; Mary (Delbert) Hawel of Hays, KS; and Tom (Paula) Meyer of

Topeka, KS; a brother, Ed (Roseann) Boeckman of New Jersey; grandchildren, Tasha, Tess, Jessica, Allison, Aaron, Neil, Paul, Mike, and Kyle; great grandchildren, Olivia, Madelyn, Gage, Emmett, Rhiley, Allison, Charlise, Henry, Thomas, Eleanor, Carter, Hadley, Campbell, and Delaney ; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers (Albert, Ernest, Leonard, and Elmer),

three sisters (Marcella, Rita, and Mary Frances), and a grandson, Ben Meyer.

Memorials may be given to North Dallas Shared Ministries, 2875 Merrill Road, Dallas, TX 75229.

Funeral services will be held at a later date.