In everything, kindness and generosity prevailed.

Elsie "Eileen" Dean was born on December 16, 1916. As a two year old child, Eileen lost her mother to illness. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle, Doris and Basil Dean, doted on by her loving aunts and uncles and enjoyed the mischievous spirit of her younger brother Basil Gary. Eileen grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming under the uncompromising love and protection of her family. She carried this spirit of love, generosity and openness with her into adulthood and passed it on to her four daughters: Carolyn, M. Kathryn, Patricia and Eileen.

Eileen and her future husband Thomas Arthur Close became good friends in high school. Decades later, they still told many tales of the fun they had with their "gang" of friends. After high school she went to college at the University of Wyoming where she completed her training to teach elementary school. She became the teacher of a one room school house outside of Sheridan. Tom and Eileen were married in 1942 in California; both worked for Lockeed-Martin building airplanes for the war effort. As a young wife and mother of four in the decades after World War II, Eileen stayed on the go, traveling with her husband Tom Close to his construction job sites, together with their daughters. Eileen enjoyed adventure, new people, and never thought to complain about the difficulties of an unsettled lifestyle. She taught swimming, Sunday School, girl scouts, led drill team and home-schooled when the snow was too deep to get to school. In 1964, Tom took a position with Monroc, Inc. in Idaho Falls where they lived for 32 years. Eileen returned to teaching when her daughters were ready to begin post secondary education. She continued teaching until her retirement at age 62. Eileen's social calendar spilled over with dancing, dinners, Lion's Club, business events, and family holidays. She returned to Wyoming frequently to spend time with their families in Jackson Hole and Sheridan. Eileen was considered a mom by many outside the family due to her open and generous nature and she took naturally to the role of matriarch within her extended family.

In 1982, Tom and Eileen lost their daughter Patricia at age 34, after many years of complications from Juvenile Diabetes. In 1995 she lost her husband Tom to Parkinson's disease. Tom and Eileen were married for 52 years. He was always the love and light of her life. After Tom's death, Eileen moved to Montana to live with her daughter Carolyn and many great-grandchildren. Until her death at 91 years of age, she enjoyed the action and sociability of her daughter's large family. Despite her many health problems, her brilliant blue eyes remained unchanged through the 91 years of her life. She said very little towards the end of her life, but her eyes said everything that needed to be said. They still sparkled with love and warmth towards everyone she met and her smile was warm and genuine.

Elsie Eileen Dean Close died at age 91 on February 29th but not before she touched the lives of scores of people as a friend, teacher, mother, and grandma. She is survived by her
Daughter, Eileen O'Shea of Nampa, ID;
Daughter, M. Kathryn O'Shea of Spokane, WA;
Daughter, Carolyn Settle-Lee of Kalispel, MT; and
Six grandchildren, Cory, Amy, Angie, Billy, Kevin, and Barbara and 14 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 8, 2008, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 270 N. Placer, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends for one hour prior to services at the church.

Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave., Idaho Falls