Elaine Dooner

The youngest of three sisters, Elaine was born to Agnes and George Leithgow in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from St. Hubert’s High School in 1962. She went on to be one of the first women to graduate from St. Joseph’s University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English. Elaine furthered her studies by completing her Master of Education from Temple University. She was a poet, a writer, and an educator. Her love of the written word remained veracious her entire life, never having less than four books open at a time.

In 1968, Elaine married the love of her life, Jim. According to family legend, they conceived two children(Jeannine, Jamie) in a Holiday Inn parking lot in Philadelphia, and one (Erin) in the back seat of a station wagon in Houston, where they had planted new roots. For 42 years, Elaine and Jim lovingly raised their family in Texas, while never leaving their Pennsylvania family behind.

Elaine devoted her life to caring for those closest to her. She was always there for her children, she never left Jim’s bedside in his final years, and she traveled near and far for her grandchildren (all without ever driving on a freeway).

After Jim’s passing in 2010, Elaine put her everything into being the World’s Greatest Grandma (everyone else’s coffee mugs are a lie). She always played Ninja Turtles with Elliot, would never turn down the opportunity to watch TCM or HGTV with Liam, never hesitated to draw funny family portraits with Stella, would always let Charlie “do her makeup” for made up events, and would heartily laugh at Fletcher’s rough and tumble antics.

Elaine was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother who always put her family first.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James P Dooner II, and her sister, Regina A McKenna. She is survived by three children, Jeannine Parker (Daniel), Jamie Dooner (Lauren), and Erin Dooner; five grandchildren, Elliot, Liam, Stella, Charlie, and Fletcher; her sister Elizabeth Bova (Ken) and four nieces and a nephew.

The love she gave her children is eternal.

Private family services will be held; those attending must wear masks and practice social distancing. Flowers may be sent to Cook-Walden Funeral Home at 6100 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78752 or memorial contributions may directed to Autistic Self Advocacy Network at https://autisticadvocacy.org/