Eileen Cecilia Johnston

Eileen Cecilia Johnston died peacefully from complications of dementia on October 6, 2025, at Ivy Ridge Assisted Living in Sacramento, California.

She was born Eileen Cecilia Fries on April 4, 1947, in the Philippine Islands to Richard Charles Fries, an American Army officer stationed at Clark Air Force Base and Maria Paula Baduria of Manila.

Eileen's lifelong love of dance began with ballet lessons as a child in the Philippines which later in life, led to multiple award-winning performances as an Irish dancer.

Eileen attended school at Wurtsmith Elementary School on Clark Air Force Base until the age of 13. Then she and her family moved to Rome, New York in December of 1959. In Rome, she attended Laurel Junior High for 2 years. Then she and her four sisters attended a private girl's school, The Academy of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary for several years. Eileen then attended Rome Catholic High School through her junior year of high school.

The family relocated to Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1965 when their dad was transferred to work at Tinker Air Force Base.

Eileen finished her senior year of high school and graduated from Mount Saint Mary High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

She attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma where she met her husband Jimmy Dale Johnston. They were married in December 1969.

When Jimmy was drafted during the Vietnam War, the couple lived in Germany for about a year. When they returned to the United States, they lived in Oklahoma City where Eileen began work as an insurance agent. The couple moved briefly to Kansas City and then to Tempe, Arizona. They divorced in 1977.

Eileen relocated to Sacramento, California to be near her parents and continued a very successful career as an insurance agent for Personal Lines Brokers. She won several awards as the Top Insurance Agent of the Year" for her company.

She later moved to Martinez, California where she continued her insurance work and wrote and directed plays at her Unitarian Church. It is remarkable that Eileen designed and made costumes for her productions, celebrating occasions such as the Solstice and Earth Day.

She met David Renwick Howlie, to whom she was engaged but unfortunately, he died of a brain tumor before they were married. In 1996, she self-published a book of poetry and prose dedicated to David, entitled, "Drumming for Bear".

Eileen was a self-taught poet, artist, guitarist, pianist and drummer. She held drumming circles in her home and created art from natural materials such as bird feathers which she sold at craft fairs. To her nieces and nephews, she was the fun Aunt Eileen, who would dress up in her unique creations and gather them around for storytelling. At family gatherings she would perform her favorite dances such as Flamenco and Irish Dance.

After the death of her father in 2003, Eileen moved to Sacramento to be closer to her mother. Eileen was a loving caregiver and companion to her beloved mother for over five years. Eileen mourned her mother's passing for many years.

Following her mother's death in 2016, Eileen lived in various locations in Sacramento until a serious car accident in January 2022, resulted in her placement at Angel Garden Board and Care in Elk Grove, California. In September 2022, Eileen moved to Ivy Ridge Assisted Living where she resided for 3 years until her death.

Eileen is survived by her brother Robert John Fries, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and her 4 sisters, Jeanette Marie Byrne of Fort Worth, Texas, Margret Ann Bauman of Dublin, Ohio, Laurie Ellen Andrews of Napa, California and Mary Elizabeth Andert of Eagan, Minnesota. In addition, Eileen is survived by 14 nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be offered Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery chapel located at 6509 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, California. Eileen's ashes will be interned there on the cemetery grounds. A family and friends gathering will be held following the mass from noon to 1:00 P.M.