 Eileen (Roat) NEILSON Eileen was born in Seattle on July 13, 1926 to Henry and Beulah (Slater) Roat. Much of her childhood was spent on the shores of Seattle's Lake Union. After graduating from Broadway High School, she became a civilian employee of the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. She also became a Worthy Advisor for Rainbow Girls and served as captain of their drill team. After the war, Eileen worked as a typist, first for the U.S. Department of the Interior and later for Safeco Insurance. In November, 1946 she married William Neilson and in 1965, the family moved to Lake Oswego, OR but she and Bill were divorced shortly thereafter. Eileen spent 15 years as a dedicated typesetter and bookkeeper for the Lake Oswego Review and served as president of the Lake Oswego Business and Professional Women's Club. After retiring, she volunteered for Store to Door, a grocery delivery service in Portland. She was also an active volunteer for the Greyhound Pets of America for many years, serving as a board member and treasurer. Eileen wrote two books, The Stem of Life and her autobiography, Yesterday Clear, Forecast Foggy. She also wrote numerous articles for the Jottings column in the Lake Oswego Review which were very well received. Among her favorite pastimes were boating, writing, caring for her greyhounds and designing residential floor plans. She is preceded in death by a sister, Laverne Smith. Her survivors are a daughter, Peg Wingrowich of Merritt, B.C., sons Fred Neilson of Lopez Island, WA and Scott Neilson of Seattle, WA and three grandchildren, Kenneth Merhar of Portland, OR, Shiela Wenger of Vancouver, WA and Christie Gryphon of Tigard, OR. A private graveside service will be held at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle.
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Published in The Seattle Times on Feb. 18, 2011
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