Elaine Papas Lear

On January 6, 2024, Elaine Papas Lear, age 98, passed away peacefully at the home she shared with her son Mark C. Lear in Houston, TX. In breaking free of the bonds of mortality, she entered into the embrace of the Everlasting, joining her beloved husband Rev. Emil A. Lear, who passed in 1988.

Elaine was born on March 28, 1925 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to parents of Greek and Macedonian origin. She grew up in the nearby town of Fort Saskatchewan and always recollected those years as ones of great happiness and familial love – despite the impact of the Great Depression and the onset of World War II. After graduating from Alberta College, she began her working life at the Dominion Rubber Company in Edmonton. Elaine made her first trip to Houston in 1949 to visit her childhood best friend, who had married a U.S. serviceman from Texas after the War. Eventually lured by the warmth of the people and especially the warmth of the climate, she moved to Texas in 1957 and took a job at Union Carbide in Texas City. The same childhood friend who brought Elaine to Texas introduced her to the minister at the church they were attending in Dickinson, TX, and the rest was history. In 1965 Elaine and Emil were married, and in 1966 Mark was born. Elaine retired from the corporate world and for the next 50 years devoted all of her energy to being an ideal caregiver for the family. She was active in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and enjoyed playing tennis with ladies in the community. She maintained her active independence in Dickinson and the surrounding community until 2017, when the flooding of the family home by Hurricane Harvey prompted (at age 92) the passing of the caregiving torch. She moved in with Mark in Houston and lived out her days with her son and precious dog Sammy.

In addition to son Mark, Elaine is survived by treasured family members: sister Georgia Henningsen, nephew David Henningsen (with wife Mara and daughters Melissa and Mikaela), niece Janice Thoenes (with husband Mark and son Dan), niece (Lynda Mrozek with fiancé Tom Robinson and daughter Raven Litscher), stepson Dr. C.E. Lear (with wife Sally), stepdaughter Jill Bateman (with husband Sterling), step-granddaughter Anne Whitson (with sons Jake and Cade), and step-granddaughter Susan Johnson (with daughter Melanie and son Colin).

Following a private burial this week, a Celebration of Life will take place at noon on March 9, 2024 at Taylor Lake Christian Church, 1730 Old Kirby Road, Seabrook, TX 77586.