Eileen Boes, 93, passed away June 22, 2018, at her Chehalis home with her family at her side. She was born in a farmhouse just outside of Winchester, Ill., Jan. 6, 1925, to Arthur and Lillie Brown.
Eileen met her husband, Gerald Boes, in Winchester, Ill. They were married April 16, 1943, and had four children. She worked hard as the wife of a farmer, as they farmed around Bluffs, Ill., and Chillicothe, Missouri. In 1963, they moved their family on a leap of faith out west to Chehalis, where she resided for the remainder of her life.
She loved to travel with her family around the United States. Her travels also took her to Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Wales and one of her favorite trips was to the Holy Land. She often mentioned highlights of her Holy Land trip as walking the same pathways as Jesus and witnessing her friend be baptized in the Jordan River. In retirement, Gerald and Eileen enjoyed summers in Westport and Chinook, where she loved to beachcomb while Gerald went fishing. Winters were spent enjoying RV life in Quartzsite, Ariz.
Eileen was a woman of strong faith. She accepted Jesus as her Savior in 1953, and continued that journey until the end. Eileen was a longtime member and very active in the Chehalis First Baptist Church (now Grace Church). She served on many committees and as a church elder for a period of time. Eileen would always say she was blessed by her family, friends and her church family.
She worked in food service at St. Helen Hospital, Chehalis and the Chehalis School District.
Eileen is survived by her four children, Susan (Erik) Moe, Jerry (Maretta) Boes, Dan Boes and Kelly (Jay) Small; brothers, Earl (Deloris) Brown of Decatur, Ill., and Glenn (Pat) Brown of Easton, Pa.; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband of 55 years; Gerald Boes; sisters, ,Margaret, Madilyn, Cecil, Mabel and Louise; brothers, Ralph, Nick, Carl and Tom.
The family would like to thank Assured Hospice and the Visiting Nurses Foundation for their assistance and compassionate care for their mother.
Viewing will be held Thursday, July 12, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Cattermole Funeral Home, 203 NW Kerron St., Winlock, Wash.
A celebration of life for Eileen will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, July 13, 2018, at Grace Church, 1866 S. Market Blvd., Chehalis.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Grace Church Building Fund.
