Eileen Marie Allan of Atascadero passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Taft, while visiting family.

She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Lon Allan of Atascadero, her three children: Tom Mayfield and his wife Wendy of Taft, Mike Mayfield and his wife Yvette of Taft, and Shannon Cheatley and her husband Jim of San Clemente; her two step daughters: Janet Smith and her husband Mark of Santa Clarita, and Ginger Nicholas and her husband Randy of Tehachapi; six siblings: Gary Graupman, Sally Trudell, Lois Pruitt, Janet Graupman, Phillip Graupman, and Jim Graupman; eleven grandchildren: Charenne, Brittney, Bailee, Allison, Jared, Jason, Zach, Tyler, Joshua, Grace, and Sterling; seven great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Eileen was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 25, 1944. She moved to California shortly thereafter, living in Lebec for several years and then Taft. The oldest of nine children, she helped her mother care for her younger brothers and sisters. She attended Saint Mary's Catholic School, and graduated from Taft High in 1962. She married John Mayfield later that same year and spent the next 17 years as a stay at home mom, entering the work force as a single parent at the age of 35.

Eileen earned an associate's degree in electronics from Santa Barbara City College in the early 1980s. She lived in various cities along the central coast but fate brought her to Atascadero and a stint as a bookkeeper at the Atascadero News, where she met Lon in 1987. They were married in 1990 and went on to enjoy many years of productive community service together.

Eileen was the Executive Director of the North County Women's Shelter for 18 years where she earned the respect of her peers on domestic violence issues throughout San Luis Obispo County. She was named a Woman of Distinction in the category of Progress for Women in 2004. Under her leadership the Shelter was able to expand and provide additional support and resources to women living in the North County. She was a member of the Atascadero Kiwanis Club for 25 years as well as a past president. She chaired the Colony Days committee and served as Parade Chairman for a decade.

Eileen was just as passionate about travel as she was about serving her community. She traveled extensively in the United States during her lifetime, making a six-week, cross-country camping trip with her daughter in 1987, and an extensive tour of the east coast and the nation's capital with Lon in 2000. A long-time travel dream was realized when she made a trip to Ireland in 1998 to visit her ancestral home.

She is remembered as adventurous, curious, a lover of good conversation and the outdoors, and the possessor of a great sense of humor. Although her health declined in recent years she remained active in Kiwanis, working the booth at the Mid-State Fair and attending weekly meetings. She contributed her time and talents to the Winemakers dinner fundraisers and helped raise funds for the new Atascadero Library.

Private graveside services will be held in her hometown of Taft. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Eileen's memory to the El Camino Homeless Organization in Atascadero.