Eleanor Joan Leonard Stanley passed away September 28, 2022 after a short illness at age 94. Eleanor was born December 30, 1927 in Queens, NY to parents John Leonard and Lillian Uhrig Leonard. She grew up in Riverhead NY, a small town on Long Island, and played the clarinet in the high school band which won county competitions, graduating with the class of 1945.
She married Robert Hamilton Sr, the father of her only child Robert Hamilton Jr. and later divorced. She owned and operated, with her second husband John Annis, a garbage truck. She owned a sewing machine/vacuum store, was a telephone operator in Riverhead NY, and became a notary, helping neighbors file their income taxes. With her third husband Henry Stanley, they traveled the world, and bought and sold several Texas properties. He recently passed; January 3, 2022, after 52 years of marriage.
Eleanor was a docent for the Houston Zoo for 46 years. At the time she retired to the Emeritus program, she was the longest serving volunteer in Houston Zoo history. She was there faithfully every Wednesday and could always be found in the carnivore area, especially at the lion habitat. She loved talking to guests about lions and enjoyed sharing the family dynamics and relating the pride to different familial relationships the guests might experience. Eleanor’s sassy personality was a favorite among staff, volunteers, and guests. She always had a story to tell.
She volunteered at Armand Bayou Nature Center for 35 years, serving on the volunteer board as Treasurer and Weekend Demonstrations Coordinator. Donations were made several times for special projects, and crafts produced to sell at the festivals each Fall which were donated to the Volunteer Board. Her favorite activities were to educate visitors about the reptiles found on site (usually wearing appropriate earrings or pins) or take them on a tour of the 1895 farm house. Her quick wit was always appreciated by fellow volunteers and staff.
Generous to a fault, Eleanor donated to several animal, American Indian, or political organizations as the need was presented. She took care of homeless cats in the area as they presented themselves.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents John and Lillian Leonard, 3 husbands, and a grandson. Survived by her son Robert Hamilton Jr. (Joann), 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and many friends. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m. at Armand Bayou Nature Center’s main auditorium; 8500 Bay Area Blvd; Pasadena, Texas 77507.
The family requests donations to be made in her memory to the Houston Zoo http://houstonzoo.org , Armand Bayou Nature Center http://abnc.org , or your favorite animal rescue organization.
A photo gallery may be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1745Wsw6zoDlHRBlNx92IVuCa1AHEraOy?usp=sharing
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