Mary Eileen Rieff Fowler of Oak Harbor died as she lived, with courage, dignity and grace, on March 20, 2010, after battling pancreatic cancer.
Eileen was born in Dallas, Texas, on June 13, 1944, the second daughter of Glen Thomas Rieff and Lora Jones Rieff. A few years later, her family moved to a farm in Lithopolis, Ohio, where she spent the remainder of her childhood and graduated valedictorian of her class from Carroll High School. She continued with her education at Brigham Young University where she earned a bachelor of science degree in history.
On June 2, 1971, Eileen married the love of her life, William Harold Fowler, in Honolulu. Five years later, Bill and Eileen were sealed for time and all eternity in the Oakland, Calif., Temple on Oct. 12, 1976. Eileen faithfully supported him throughout his military career living in California, Ohio, Alabama and Germany.
Her entire life Eileen wanted to travel and see the world. Together with her husband, she traveled to Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Luxemburg, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Greece and Canada. Visiting beautiful cities like Amsterdam at tulip time, Paris, London, Stratford-Upon-Avon for a Shakespearean Play, Athens, Oberammergau to watch the Passion Play about Christ that is only performed once every 10 years, Venice, Strassbourg and Berlin — chipping her own piece of history off the Berlin Wall. Upon her husband’s retirement, 17 years ago, they settled in Oak Harbor, where she was quite content and hung a sign on her fence that said, “If you’re lucky enough to live on Whidbey, you’re lucky enough!”
Eileen had many hobbies and passions. She was a master canner and won several blue ribbons for her canning at local fairs. But the biggest award of all was finding her grandson eating her strawberry jam by the spoonfuls, straight out of the jar! She loved to sew and took great pride in creating unique, homemade Christmas stockings for each member of her family. Most of her time was dedicated in service to her church as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout her life, Eileen served as both a Ward and Stake Primary President, a Stake Young Women’s President, and twice as a Ward Relief Society President. She volunteered as a Boy Scout Leader and Merit Badge Counselor, helping not only her two sons, Scott and Brent, earn their Eagle Scout Award, but several other boys as well.
Her greatest love, by far, was teaching Early Morning Seminary, a religious class for high school age youth in her church before school each morning. She was a Seminary Teacher for 10 years, a Seminary Area Supervisor for 5 years, and continued to volunteer as a substitute even after she had started her third round of chemo.
Eileen’s mantra, “Dance like no one is watching, Sing like no one is listening, and live every day as if it were your last!” describes her full-life perfectly.
Eileen is survived by her loving husband, William Harold Fowler; her three adoring children, Lora Ann Fowler Harrell, William Scott Fowler and Brent Thomas Fowler; her 9 treasured grandchildren, Jonathan, Christopher, Madison, Brittany, Hannah, Brody, Allie and Jack; and her older sister Kathryn Lynn Rieff Adams. She is preceded in death by her younger brother Glen Thomas Rieff II and her dear parents Glen Thomas Rieff and Lora Jones Rieff.
Memorials in lieu of flowers have been suggested to Skagit Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Burley Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.
