Eleta Marie McElroy

Eleta was born in Washington, D.C. on the 30th of December 1946 to the late Ruth (Ward) and C. George Younkin. The family moved to Texas in 1950 and resided in Arlington where Eleta graduated from Arlington H.S. in 1965. She attended Arlington State College, now U.T. Arlington, where she met her future husband. Stephen B. McElroy. They were married on April 26, 1969 in Arlington and moved to Moerfelden, Germany where Steve was stationed with the U. S. Air Force. They lived there for two years before returning to Texas in 1971. In 1972, they moved to Houston where the lived and raised their children.

Over the years, Eleta served as a Camp Fire leader and in several positions with the Boy Scouts of America, including a Cub den leader, Scout leader, Explorer advisor and district committee member. She was recognized as den leader of the year and was also awarded the God and Service Award from the United Methodist Church. She served in countless positions in the church not the least of which was teaching Sunday school while her children grew. She was employed by Pasadena Independent School District as a licensed educational paraprofessional and retired in the spring of 2010. She was a member of the Texas Gulf Coast Tia-Piah Society with Steve and was an avid student and practitioner of Native American crafts, excelling in beadwork. She was a longtime member of the Texas State Teachers Association.

Eleta is survived by her husband Steve; her children, Jennifer and husband Michael, Erich and wife Laura, Kathleen and husband Chris; grandchildren Kyle, Dean, Megan Hamlin, Aiden and Eleanor McElroy, and Kara and Brandon Ingersoll; her sisters Karen and husband Bob, Cheryl and husband Thom; her brother Chip and wife Polli; along with other family and numerous friends.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to Texas Gulf Coast Tia-Piah Society, 2309 Lees Ct., League City TX 77573.