Eileen Gatechair passed away peacefully at the Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher, NC on March 5th, 2010. The daughter of Clarence and Cecelia Stigall, Eileen grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois where she obtained a BA and MA in commercial art and design. During her university years she met her future husband, Robert Gatechair, who was also a student in commercial art and design. The Gatechair family resided in Island Lake and Barrington, Illinois before retiring to Tryon Estates in Columbus, NC in 1994. Throughout her life, Eileen was very active in supporting the visual and performing arts, serving on the Boards of the Barrington Arts Council as well as volunteering with the Chicago Art Institute. Eileen is survived by two sons, Dr. Leslie R. Gatechair of St. Petersburg, Florida and Terry L. Gatechair of Evanston, Illinois. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert F. Gatechair in 2001. Memorials may be made to The Laurel Lake Music Society, Inc., C/O Wayne Ackerman, Treasurer, 621 Laurel Lake Drive, Columbus, NC 28722 or to Tryon Fine Arts Center, C/O Beth Child, 34 Melrose Avenue, Tryon, NC 28782
To
to the family, please