Eileen (Gaskins) Bushong

Eileen Isabel (Gaskins) Bushong also known as Grandma Beautiful, age 93, passed on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at Meridian Care Center, Glen Carbon, Illinois.  Eileen was born June 16,1930 in Woodlawn, IL, the daughter of Howard and Lucile Gaskins.  Eileen was married to Melvin Andrew Bushong June 4, 1948 and he preceded her in death on January 25, 2016.

Eileen is survived by her pride and joy, her daughter, Nancy Ann Schofield (Tom) of Edwardsville, Illinois.  She is also survived by three grandchildren; Amy Tucker (Jerry) of Chesapeake, Virginia; Ann Langston of Troy, Illinois; Jeremy Schofield (Heather) of Worden, Illinois; 10 great grandchildren; Andrew (Brittney), Christina, Jacob, Carlee (Araan), Austin (Naomi), Megan (Kyle), David, Hayden, Tyler, Ethan; and 7 great-great grandchildren; Max, Daisy, Hazel, Ben, Haven, Theo, RJ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Lucile Gaskins, beloved husband of 67 years, Melvin Bushong; sisters, Marion Piccioni and Margorie Hails; brothers, Howard Gaskins, Bill Gaskins, and David Gaskins.

Eileen was well known for saying, “our love for you will ever flow like water down a tater row.”  She was Queen of Woodlawn High School in 1948.  Eileen was a financial secretary at both Siegler and Kaskaskia College.  In retirement Eileen worked at Bill’s Tax Service, VA Nurses and served at election polls.  She faithfully and regularly donated her rare blood type to the area’s blood bank.  She was also a faithful Centralia Orphans basketball fan.

Eileen was also a member of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Centralia. She enjoyed her young adults Sunday school class and many other groups with her church family. She was well known for her gardens and her beautiful flowers; knowing even the Latin names of the flowers. She even had the CB handle “Flower Girl “.
She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Celebration of life services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia, IL with her son-in-law, Rev Tom Schofield officiating.  A private burial will follow at Mt. Catherine Cemetery in Woodlawn, Il where Eileen will be laid to rest next to her husband Melvin. Friends and relatives are respectfully invited to visiting hours at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. till the time of service on Thursday.  The family asks that you consider in lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the Centralia Regional Library in honor of Eileen being an avid reader and patron of the library.  Memorials will be accepted at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia or the Centralia Regional Library at 515 E Broadway St in Centralia, IL 62801.  On-line condolences and memories of Eileen may be shared with the family at www.maczfuneralhomes.com or on their Facebook page.     

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eileen (Gaskins) Bushong, please visit our floral store.