Eileen Ellen (McKay) Millikan

Eileen Ellen McKay Millikan was born September 28, 1916 to W. James McKay and Hilda Foshaug McKay. She was the eldest of six children.

Eileen grew up on a farm 10 miles north of Almira Washington where she loved to follow her Daddy around the place. She went to a small elementary school; then much too quickly came high school. Eileen moved down the road to live on the McKay homestead with her Aunt Maggie, who she adored, and her Uncle Wallace McKay and Cousin George McKay. She travelled to Almira to attend high school.

In 1934 Eileen continued her education at WSC, currently WSU, for five years. She completed a Bachelor of Science and a Teaching Certificate. Her first teaching job was in Rochester, Washington, where she taught for several years until the outbreak of World War II.

To help in the war effort, she moved to Seattle and took a job with United Airlines, handling mail at Boeing Field, where she was required to carry a pistol!

Happily, she returned home in 1944 and took a teaching job at Almira High School.

She married Robert E. Millikan on June 8, 1947. Peonies from her Aunt Maggie's garden graced the Almira church that day. They settled in Bremerton, Washington where their son Peter Millikan was born in 1948. Within a few months they moved to Hayward, California, and several years later to Berkeley, California when Eileen went to work for the California State Health Department in the bacteriology department; until her second child, Marlene Millikan was born in 1956. In 1960 they bought a house in Castro Valley, California, where they lived the next 19 years. Eileen returned to teaching for those 19 years in nearby San Lorenzo.

In 1979, after Bob retired, they returned to live at the McKay homestead.

Eileen became a volunteer for the Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary and the Lincoln Hospital Foundation. Subsequently, she served the Lincoln Hospital Board for 25 years, finally stepping down at the age of 102.

Eileen loved bridge and had many games in her long career. She loved to spend all day gardening, and tending to her CATS!

She was a verbal, passionate advocate for the Democratic Party and served as a convention delegate and precinct chairperson for the Lincoln County Democrats.

She is survived by her Son, Peter (Catrina) Millikan, her Daughter, Marlene Millikan (Dale), three grandchildren Daniel Millikan (Liz), Jessica Millikan and James Millikan along with five great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and several generations of cousins.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the LaFollette Cemetery, Almira, WA. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.strate-funeral.com for the Millikan family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family