Eileen Busbee

Eileen Nelson (Blevins, Orren) Busbee died Jan. 9, 2015, in a Coupeville nursing home. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Eileen was born Jan. 12, 1919.

When she was 11 months old, Eileen almost died from double pneumonia. She survived at-home, kitchen-table lung surgery with a deep scar and minus one rib. Pneumonia took her mother Sally’s life when Eileen was 7.

Her father, George Nelson, was a T&P Railroad conductor, and during the next few years, Eileen alternately lived at both ends of his route, in Fort Worth and with family friends in Marshall, Texas.

Eileen was a medical secretary for many years, was later secretary to L.R. (Dutch) Meyer, the legendary TCU athletics director, and ended her working career as a bookkeeper. Eileen moved to Oak Harbor in May 2001 to be near her son, Gary Nelson Blevins, and his wife, JoAnne. JoAnne died Sept. 21, 2012.

“My mother was a terrific mom, especially as a single-parent for a few years,” Gary says. “Times were tough, but she always had enough change for me to attend Saturday shoot-em-ups at Fort Worth’s White and Tivoli theaters. She was a reader, a whiz at crossword puzzles and a dog lover.”

Eileen was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Order of Eastern Star and the Lady Shriners.

She was predeceased by husbands Herb Blevins, Billy Joe Orren and Floyd Busbee. Her second marriage was the charm. Orren, who died in December 1977, was the love of her life. He was a gentle, loving man, a good husband and a wonderful father for her son Gary. In addition to her son, Eileen is survived by a niece, Margaret Ann (Orren) Croft, of Fort Worth, and five great-granddaughters.

Eileen asked to be cremated with no funeral service.