Mildred (Milly) Jane Eagan, 82
Mildred Jane Eagan died March 15 after a battle with cancer. She was 82.
Eagan was born in Abie, Neb., on Oct. 18, 1925, to Mary and Joseph Roh. She graduated high school in Abie, then relocated to Wahoo, Neb., with her father and brother, which is where she met James Eagan on a blind date.
Two years after their June 18, 1949, marriage, the young family of four moved to Seattle where it grew to eleven: five girls and four boys. Their next move was to the log house acreage at Lake Tapps, northeast of Sumner in 1971. Eagan became involved with the 4-H program, eventually attaining the position of Western Washington State 4-H Fair Manager at Puyallup. Her 30 years of leadership and contribution to the youth of Washington was recognized many times, but she was most complimented when she was chosen as one of the first 100 inductees to the state’s 4-H Hall of Fame in 2001.
Eagan remained involved in state and county 4-H programs after Jim retired in 1989 and they moved to Kingston. She planned her family visits and world travels around state and Kitsap County fairs and Presentation Judging events. It was in Kingston that she also thoroughly enjoyed her friendships with the people in the neighborhood, TOPS, St. Catherine’s Guild and St. Olaf’s/St. Peters parishes, the Crazy Ladies, and the Election Day workers.
Eagan is survived by Jim, her husband of 58 years; daughters Ellen (Allen) Garr of Colville, Shirley Rogers and Marianne (Tom) Brooke of Poulsbo, Jean (Bob) Gillespie of Wenatchee, and Sharon Eagan (Brad Buckwalters) of Brooklyn, NY; sons Jim (Becky) Eagan and Brian (Lauren) Eagan of Auburn, Dave (Robin) Eagan of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Patrick (Karen) Eagan of Pueblo, Colo.; 15 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and three step grandchildren.
She is also survived by brothers Vic Roh of Albuquerque, NM, Joe Roh of Nebraska and Rev. Ray Roh of California; and sisters Irma Drahota and Alice Clinkenbeard of Nebraska.
The funeral mass will be held at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in Poulsbo at 11 a.m. March 28. A reception will follow. More information and the electronic guest book is available at the Lewis Funeral Chapel Web site: www.lewischapel.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Puget Sound Blood Center or St. Vincent de Paul, Attn: Denise Agee, 1137 Callow Ave. N, Bremerton, WA 98312 (In Memory of Milly Eagan).
Eagan’s entire family thanks Dr. Winters and the tremendous staff of the Oncology Unit of Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton. The quality care, sincere concern and infinite patience were deeply appreciated by Eagan and her family.
