Eleanor Irene Sutherland

Eleanor Irene Sutherland, M.D., passed away peacefully on March 27, 2012, at her home in Federal Way, WA. Eleanor was born on June 15, 1926, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, to Dr. James and Edith Sutherland and spent her early years as a girl in rural Canada.

Eleanor graduated from the University of Manitoba as a medical technologist and also earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Biola Bible Institute. Eleanor’s lifelong ambition was to follow in her father’s footsteps as a physician. This pursuit required many years of hard work and dedication and her dream was realized in 1964, when she graduated from the University of Tubingen, Germany, School of Medicine, where she was required to complete all of her course work in the German language.

Her career as a physician included work as the Medical Director of the state training school in Lander, Wyoming, family practices in Montana, Wyoming and Federal Way, WA, where, in 1978, she designed and built her new office and worked as a solo practitioner and consulting physician for several area nursing homes and Alzheimer’s care facilities.

Through her membership in the Christian Medical Society and the International Congress of Christian Physicians, Dr. Sutherland had the opportunity to participate in many medical mission trips throughout the world, and was especially thrilled to have worked in Taiwan and India, where she met many life-long colleagues and friends. “Dr Eleanor” was also passionate about animals and nature and enjoyed the company of many dogs, cats, raccoons, squirrels and birds at her lovely woodland home. She was also passionate about, art, music, travel and lively political debate.

Dr. Sutherland will be missed by her hundreds of friends across the world and leaves behind a legacy of true compassion, caring and charity which will live on in her bequests and generosity to others. Dr. Sutherland will be buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, Washington. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. April 2 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2415 S. 320th St., Federal Way, WA. Please visit www.yahnandson.com to sign the online guest register. Memorial contributions are suggested to:

• The Humane Society of Washington

• The Salvation Army on Doctors without Borders or a charity of your choice.