Eileen Routson died peacefully in her home on December 1, 2022, seven weeks shy of her 99th birthday. She was born January 19, 1924, in Eureka, CA to Grover and Helen Ogle, the second of four daughters. She graduated from Eureka High School in 1941. Following graduation, when the US entered WWII, she went to work at the U.S. Maritime Commission in San Francisco. There she met her future husband Jack, who was temporarily stationed in SF while in the Merchant Marines. They were married in Eureka in November 1943. Following the war they moved to Boulder, Colorado where Jack obtained his BS and MS in Business. They moved to Laramie in 1948. Their three sons, Bob, Jim, and Don were all born in Laramie and graduated from University Prep and the University of Wyoming. Eileen was a stay-at-home mom when her kids were young; in time, she returned to college and graduated with a degree in English Literature in 1969. She enjoyed learning and continued taking classes at UW until Jack retired from the University in 1986.

Jack and Eileen loved to travel and learn. They traveled the US and Canada extensively, usually staying in elder hostels with educational themes. They also toured most of Europe over the years, including spending eight months on the continent when Jack took a sabbatical in 1973. They spent considerable time in Ireland where Eileen had numerous relatives and in Norway where Jack had many former students.

Eileen is well-remembered for her extensive flower gardens. The Routsons were lifelong members of the Laramie Garden Club and their home was often a stop on the annual Garden Club tours. She and Jack received the Laramie Lions Club and Laramie Daily Boomerang Distinguished Citizen Award in 1999. Eileen was also active in the League of Women Voters and delivered Meals on Wheels into herlate 80s, with many of her recipients being younger than she was. She was a faithful member of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Laramie.

Eileen is survived by her sister Ann Ogle of Santa Cruz, CA and by her three sons Bob (Micky) of Laramie, Jim (Kitty) of Billings, MT, and Don (Becky) of Prescott, AZ.. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Eileen’s caregivers in the last few years of her life, including Dr. Emma Bjore and especially Shiloh Bayne.