Eileen Marie Hill Brown

Eileen Hill Brown was 73 when she died in Oak Harbor Sept. 27, 2014.

Anyone who picked up a newspaper on Whidbey Island over the last 30 years is familiar with her name as editor of the original base newspaper, the Crosswind, for over 20 years; as “Life on Whidbey” weekly columnist in the Whidbey News-Times’ Wednesday edition; and “Still Talking” columnist in the Whidbey Weekly.

Eileen was born in Chicago Feb. 16, 1941, to Marcus Stow Hill and Eileen Marie MacAvoy.

As a young child, Eileen was placed in an orphanage and then lived with an abusive uncle. In spite of her difficult early life, Eileen became a very loving, responsible and extremely talented person.

As a young lady, Eileen worked for several companies in product promotion. She quickly moved on to graphic art companies as a freelance writer.

Soon, her copy was found on the back of cereal boxes, direct mail and print ads. She worked for a time for Weyerhaeuser, for several Chicago businesses and the Encyclopedia Britannica.

In 1960, Eileen moved to Washington state and began writing for KBRO Radio Bremerton. She was near her terminally ill father and stepmother who lived in Seattle.

In 1971, Eileen married a Navy man, Gene L. Cushway of Seattle.

Their son, Marcus Gene, was born in Oakland, Calif., in 1972. The family came to Whidbey Island in 1974 and settled into their Penn Cove home.

Eileen worked as visual merchandising supervisor for the Navy Exchange at the Seaplane Base and was one of a large team of associates behind the conversion and opening in 1976 of the modern store in what had once been a WWII PBY Catalina seaplane hanger.

On the advice of a neighbor, Eileen took the civil service exam and was hired as a clerk typist for public works. She quickly moved on to public affairs but realized she wanted to be with the Crosswind newspaper office.

Eileen joined the Crosswind in 1979, where she worked side-by-side with Editor Lee Brainard for six years.

When Lee retired, Eileen applied for the job of editor and was promoted in 1985.

The Crosswind received Best Navy Newspaper Award in 1980 and 1981 and picked up the coveted Thomas Jefferson Award for Best Armed Services Newspaper in 1980.

One of her most treasured moments came in 2001, when she was named NAS Whidbey Island Civilian of the Year. When she retired in 2004, she received a Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

In October 2004, she began working for Sound Publishing as a copy editor for the Whidbey edition of the Northwest Navigator, the regional newspaper that replaced the Crosswind. She also became a plank owner of the PBY Memorial Association in 1998 as she became a tireless worker for the PBY project.

Eric Marshall, editor of the Whidbey Weekly, knew she was highly regarded in the community and persuaded her to once more tackle a weekly column called “Still Talking.”

He was right. Readers loved her.

Eileen is survived by her son, Marcus G. Cushway, and his wife Nadine of Oak Harbor and by several cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Mark Hill.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, at Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, with Gary Wallin as Life Celebrant.

A reception will follow. Burial will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville, Wash. Memorials may be made to WAIF in her name.

Please visit Eileen’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences.