Norma Jean “Jeanie” Eastwood was compassionate, selfless and gracious in all that she did. She was a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was a pillar of strength and wisdom for all that knew her.
Jeanie was born on September 13, 1942 in Evansville, Ind. where she spent her childhood and teenage years. In her first year at North High School she met Jim Eastwood, the man she would spend the next fifty-five years with. They dated all four years of high school and after graduation Jim joined the navy. They were married April 22, 1961 after Jim completed boot camp and training. Honolulu, Hawaii was their first duty station but Jeanie spent most of her years as a military wife on the east coast.
While stationed in Maryland Jim and Jeanie got orders to Whidbey Island and after a cross country car trip with three daughters and a small dog they arrived in February of 1978. Having already worked for a small construction company in Maryland, Jeanie found a job with Island Construction where she worked for many years. In October of 1983 their fourth daughter Lindsey was born. Eventually she went to work for Yonkman Construction where she stayed until she retired in 2008.
She loved being outside on warm sunny days, if the sun was out, so was she! She loved to sit at the beach either by herself with a coffee or with her daughters and grandchildren playing at Rocky Point. She loved the warmth of the sun and the sound of the water. If she had to sit inside on sunny days she sat by a window where the sun was streaming in so she could feel its warmth and light.
Warmth and light describe Jeanie. She had a sacrificial love for people her whole life. She believed with all of her heart that Christianity is something you do and she was always “doing.” Not only was she always there for her family she would give her time and energy to anyone who needed help. Over the years she helped elderly friends with everything from meals to laundry to maneuvering through hospital stays and legal matters. After she retired she made the ultimate sacrifice and moved away from her daughters and grandchildren back to Indiana for three years where she and Jim took care of her mother, her sister and her father-in-law.
While still in Indiana in March of 2011 she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Compassionate and “other centered” as always, she made sure her family members in Indiana were taken care of before returning to Whidbey Island in October of that year.
She fought with everything she had but on December 13, at home with her family, she went to be with the Lord.
She is loved and survived by her husband Jim Eastwood, her four daughters Cheryl Yonkman, of Oak Harbor; Angie Tuller, of Stanwood; Terry Bartilson, Farmington, Minn. and Lindsey Eastwood, of Seattle; her eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, her sister Helen Jennings, Evansville, Ind. and her cousins Carlos Wallace and Mindy Dockery, of Indiana and Jackie Headly and Carolyn Powers, of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her step-father Albert Baird, her mother Helen Baird, and her baby grandson Brandon Terrell.
A memorial service to honor Jeanie’s life will be held 2 p.m. Friday Jan. 4 at Living Word Fellowship in Oak Harbor. Mark Engel, Minister from Oak Hill Church of Christ, Evansville, Indiana will officiate. In lieu of flowers we ask that you remember Jeanie by making a donation to the SHIBA Program thru Island County Senior Services or by donating to any hospice organization of your choice. Friends and family are encouraged to offer condolences and share memories utilizing the Memory Book hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.
