Harriett “Eileen” (Harpole) Burkeen, 93, passed away April 17, 2021. Eileen was born July 6, 1927 in Elmira, Ore. to Marvon and Rosetta (Marsh) Harpole, who both preceded her in death. When only 3 months old the family, including a brother, Howard, moved to the Cottage Grove area where she lived until her death. She attended local schools and graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1945.
She later returned to that school to work as a secretary and bookkeeper where she retired after 25 years, in 1986. She previously worked for several years at a local bank. Eileen was married to Charles (Chuck) Burkeen who passed away in 1991. She was an active member of the Church of Christ at 6th and Gibbs, having served many years as a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, choir member, church secretary, and treasurer.
For several years she had served on the board of the Cottage Grove Museum and was a volunteer at the Cottage Grove Hospital. Her interests included working at her church, hunting, fishing, traveling, square dancing and spectator sports, but most of all Eileen’s main interest was spending time with her family.
Eileen is survived by three children and their spouses: daughter Leanne (Wayne) Cherry of Eugene, Ore; son Brent (Lisa) Witherspoon of Springfield, Ore; son Wade (Jere) Witherspoon of Lafayette, Ore; six grandchildren, Nathan and Brian Cherry, Rani Conley, Brenna Witherspoon, Kalie McNelly and Jesse Witherspoon, and 13 great-grandchildren. Also special to her were four nieces, one nephew and their families. She is preceded in death by her husband and brother Howard Harpole. A funeral will be held Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove. Interment at West Lawn Memorial Park in Eugene.
