Eileen (Slattery) Moushey
Eileen (Slattery) Moushey has left the stage, dying peacefully in her sleep on November 17, 2024, after battling Alzheimer’s Disease for the past 6 years. She leaves behind her husband of 50 years – Stephen – three children and nine grandchildren – Colleen Moushey Lowther (wife of Jay Lowther and mother of Nora Lyons, Sophia Lyons, Brendan Lowther, Delaney Lowther and Cormac Lowther) of Ballwin, Missouri; Allyn Moushey Hensley (wife of Jason Hensley and mother of Jack and Zoe) of Midlothian, Virginia; and Rory Patrick Moushey (married to Chun Yao Lee and father of Max and Leo) of New Taipei City, Taiwan. She also leaves her sister Noreen Murphy of Valrico, Florida.
After graduating from The University of Dayton (Ohio) in 1971 she taught third and first grade for a total of 6 years. She married Stephen on June 29, 1974 and gave birth to Colleen Jeanne in 1977. Elizabeth Allyn came along in 1980 and Rory Patrick in 1982. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, she also began volunteering at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio. She was very active in all phases of the theater at Weathervane including acting; building and painting sets; designing props, lighting and sound effects and directing. She won several awards in all categories over the years and also wrote 5 stage plays based on well-known Fairy Tales. She was elected as a board member and board president and chaired and co-chaired committees on two occasions that raised over one million dollars each time for major additions to the Theatre.
She wrote several original scripts for the local Public Television Station in Kent, Ohio. Her writing there earned her two Regional Emmy Awards.
In 2011 she created the “8 x 10 TheatreFest” at Weathervane (since renamed 8×10: The Eileen Moushey TheatreFest). Authors throughout the country submit their original 10 minute plays and 8 are chosen for performances over the span of one to two weekends. Eileen produced the annual event for the first five years before handing it off to the Theatre to continue as part of the regular season. Next one is July 2025
Somehow(!), in her spare time she discovered Audience Participation Murder Mysteries as they were being introduced to Northeast Ohio. She formed a company and wrote, directed and produced over 30 Mysteries, many debuting at the Akron Civic Theatre. Her Mysteries by Moushey are performed today across the country and internationally. Her words, her humor, her love of all things theater continue to entertain and inspire new generations of drama kids.
Her greatest roles as wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, leave an infinite hole and we miss her terribly every day.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Weathervane Playhouse – 8×10: The Eileen Moushey TheatreFest or to the Jim and Betty Moushey Scholarship Fund at Holy Family Parish in Stow, Ohio.
Services will be this Saturday, November 23, 2024 at
15642 Clayton Road
Ellisville, Missouri 63011
Visitation from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m.
Live stream on YouTube at 11:00 a.m. Central
https://youtube.com/live/qS7iwvscSQs?feature=share
Oh, I’m so sorry to read this. I thoroughly enjoyed being Eileen’s “right arm” during the early days of the 8×10 Festival at Weathervane. Love to Stephen and the family.
Colleen, and all Moushey family, prayers for you during this time of loss. Mrs. Moushey was like a second mom to me through grade school and will be sorely missed. She was so energetic, funny, and witty. My condolences to you all.
Joining in to honor Eileen, who breathed and lived and was Weathervane Playhouse personified. I served on and led the Board during a tumultuous period that took us from discord to determination to collaboration in the fantastic place the space is now, and a large part of that, all of the way through, was Eileen. From her Board service to her bard service, to her unending drum-beating for Weathervane, the place could not have had a better cheerleader, ringleader, idea leader, jokeleader, or – simply, leader. From her pride in the place, its people, its cadre of volunteers, its players, its supporters and sponsors, she just exuded confidence and determination and – fun! While we’ll all miss her, we should all see her anywhere and everywhere in the fabric of the Playhouse. Safe travels, Eileen!
Eileen instilled in me a love for theatre and comedy. She was pivotal in shaping my life to be a director of comedy, a creative teacher, and a longtime friend to so many. I was blessed work on mystery events which inturn created a love for the biz. I will always be grateful to have made my directing debut with one of Eileen’s masterpieces, Wolf Tales.
Love to Steve and family, and all who were blessed to have know this incredible woman.
To Stephen and family. Our thoughts are with you as we reminisce about all the wonderful times that we had with Eileen and you all. Eileen brought so much joy entertaining with her talents. We are forever grateful for opportunities from her that led to us being together and having a family of our own. Sending love and prayers. May God comfort you during this time.
Our deepest sympathy to the family. We admired Eileen and had the opportunity to meet her at her daughter Elizabeth’s graduation from undergrad. We enjoyed other special occasions with members of the family. We admired all she had accomplished. May all who loved and cared for her be soothed and blessed with peace as you go forward without her physical presence.