Eileen Heier Yeager, 73, of Park, Kan., passed away peacefully on October 2, 2021, at Covenant Village in Gastonia, N.C. Born on July 26, 1948, in Quinter, Kansas, Eileen was the youngest child of the late Anthony “Tony” and Marcella “Sally” (Shmidtberger) Heier.
From a young age, Eileen was determined, outspoken and fiercely independent. As a teenager she was a star volleyball player and had her heart set on attending Marian All Girls Catholic School in Hays, Kansas. Her father relented and allowed her to enroll after she kept a bargain with him to earn a certain level of spending money. Eileen was successful and loved her time at Marian, where she built lifelong friendships. Following Marian, she attended Fort Hays State University where she majored in Communication.
Although Eileen was always a proud native of Kansas, she spent most of her adulthood living elsewhere. At age 23, she moved away from her hometown to Salina where she began a family. Later she lived in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Eileen worked for the United States Postal Service in West Chester, Ohio, for more than 20 years before returning to Park to care for her mother Sally in 2010. Eileen had “naturally” blonde hair and cornflower blue eyes, was charming, warm hearted, sarcastic and goofy. It was no surprise that Eileen attracted supportive and loving friends everywhere she lived.
She dreamed of being a country-western singer, though she couldn’t sing. That didn’t stop her love of music. She often listened to oldies on her jukeboxes with a margarita in hand. Eileen loved the 1950s and all that came with it – especially old cars, flamingos and the color turquoise. She enjoyed hosting parties with her “flock” and lived out Jimmy Buffett’s song, “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere.” In her later years, she spent a great deal of her time gardening and traveling to beautiful places like Lake Havasu Arizona and the beaches of the Carolinas. She prioritized time with her grandchildren and was the world’s greatest grammama to Lauren and Zane.
Eileen is survived by Sheldon Yeager of Freeland, Mich., and daughter, Julie Yeager Andrews, (Brian) of Gastonia, N.C., her cherished grandchildren Lauren Marie Andrews of Atlanta, Ga., and Zane William Andrews of Clemson, S.C. Eileen was also preceded in death by her beloved son, Shannon Troy Yeager (2019) and siblings; Ronald (2010), Marlene (2008), Gilbert (1965) and Virginia (1943).
The family extends their sincere thanks to the team at Covenant Village for their exceptional care and caregivers Cindy Jo Sane, Darlene Tulbert, Terry Moore, Shannon Muse and Audrey Swayney.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions. In Kansas: Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Cemetery; American Legion Auxiliary Grainfield; or Developmental Services of NW Kansas. In North Carolina: Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church; Catherine’s House; or Life Enrichment Center Kings Mountain.
A prayer service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Belmont, N.C.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.