Obituaries

Minnie Eleanor Monroe passed away on Monday, May 9, 2016 at the age of 96. She was born in Pawnee Rock, Kansas on August 10, 1919 to Edgar and Beatrice Duncan. She grew up in Liberty, Missouri where she met her husband Stanley E Monroe who was a student at William Jewell College. After her graduation from Liberty High School they were married on May 18, 1937. They lived in Columbia, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Boston, Massachusetts, while Stanley completed his medical training. During the years they were in Columbia, Eleanor attended Missouri University School of Journalism. In 1948 they moved to Sherman, Texas for Stanley to start his medical practice. In addition to raising their five children, Eleanor was a member of several organizations and volunteered at the Grayson County Crippled Children’s Center (now the Grayson Rehabilitation Center) and learned sign language to help with deaf children in the school system. She was an active member of First Baptist Church and served as Church Librarian for many years. Eleanor loved spending time with her family and friends. She was very organized and made every gathering a special memory. She and Stanley enjoyed traveling, both overseas and in their RV across the United States and into Canada. Eleanor loved being on the beach looking for shells, especially on Sanibel Island. At the age of 70, Eleanor became a charter member of the “Telling Our Stories” group at Austin College where she began writing stories about her family and her experiences. During 20 years of participation she wrote over 100 stories, contributing a number of them to the Herald Democrat and various other publications. The year she turned 90, Eleanor realized a life-long dream of being a published writer, when Austin College and the Herald Democrat published a book entirely of her stories, entitled Memories of the Twentieth Century . These heartwarming accounts of her family and experiences have become her legacy to her family. Eleanor had a special place in her heart for Stanley’s family, especially for his youngest sister, Geraldine McCurry, who she felt was like her own sister. They shared many wonderful times together. Eleanor was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be missed. Eleanor was preceded in death by her brother, Edgar T Duncan of Liberty Missouri; her husband of 68 years, Dr Stanley E Monroe; her son Dr Stanley E Monroe, Jr. of Houston; her daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) Woodard of Austin, TX and infant granddaughter, Shannon Minor. Eleanor is survived by her son, Alan Monroe and wife Baceliza of Edinburg, TX; son, Ronald Monroe and wife Nancy of Coppell, TX; daughter, Kathie (Monroe) and husband John Buchanan of Austin, TX; daughter-in-law Jean Monroe of Round Rock TX (widow of Stanley Monroe Jr.); grandchildren, Jenifer Monroe , Jason Monroe and wife Staci, Rebecca Monroe, Jessica (Monroe) and husband Daniel Martinez, James Monroe and wife Mary Beth, Michelle Monroe, Christopher Monroe and wife Stacey, Paul Buchanan and wife Abbye, Elizabeth (Buchanan) and husband Ross Harris, Sarah (Buchanan)and husband Benjamin Raley, Emily (Woodard) and husband Josue Perez, Caleb Woodard; and eighteen great grandchildren. Services will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 1:30pm at the first Baptist Church of Sherman, with Dr. Mike Lawson officiating. Interment will follow at West Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, May 13, 2016 from 6:30 – 8:00pm at Dannel Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be family members with Dr. Emmett Essin acting as honorary pallbearer. If desired, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Christian Education Memorial Scholarship Fund, 400 S. Travis, Sherman TX 75090 or to the Charity of your choice.