Eileen (Showalter) Sawyer
December 9, 1957- September 10, 2025
Eileen (Showalter) Sawyer passed away September 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by the love of her family and the care of the community she cultivated throughout her life.
Born in Seattle, Washington, December 9, 1957, Eileen only spent a few years in the PNW before her family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1961. There she spent her childhood and formative years embracing the culture and spirit of the city she always held dear. Eileen often regaled stories of family-friendly Mardi Gras celebrations, live musical performances spilling in the streets, as well as attending a recently desegregated school system in 1960, and the destruction of hurricane Camille in 1969.
As a young adult, Eileen returned to Washington where she built a life rooted in family compassion and community. There she raised her children and became affectionately known as “Mom” to countless others- opening her door, table, and heart to anyone who needed a place to feel cared for and safe. Eileen also served as a city council member for the city of Bonney Lake. After learning of the lack of comprehensive disaster planning many towns below Mount Rainier had in the 1990s, Eileen volunteered countless hours on disaster preparedness for the Red Cross.
In 2008, Eileen and her husband Tim made their home in the coastal region of North Carolina. Still deeply devoted to their community, they volunteered with the Swansboro Fire Department. For over a decade they offered their time and dedication to the service of others in their beloved community.
During the pandemic, Eileen and Tim embarked on a new chapter, moving to the high desert of northeast Arizona to pursue their dream of a sustainable, off-grid lifestyle in harmony with the land. Eileen embraced this lifestyle with the same determination and adventurous spirit that marked every part of her life.
Eileen will be remembered for her boundless generosity, fierce and feisty spirit, and remarkable ability to make anyone feel at home. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she has touched, the community she helped strengthen, and the love she so freely gave.
Eileen will be profoundly missed by her husband Tim, her surviving children, Nicki, Jesse, Kevin, Liz, her extended family and all who were fortunate enough to know her.
