
Dear Mom,

On this Mother's day, I want to thank you for showing us, by example, what it means to be a strong, capable, and independent woman, an involved member of your neighborhood, a passionate participant, a caregiver, and an organizer of fun times.  Game days, concerts in the park, a crafts fair, shopping, a quilt show, a sewing circle, lunch out, or blueberry and pecan picking.  You either initiated it or said  "I would love to!"

You greeted each day with a smile and a To Do list.  I cherish your many gifts -- quilts, quilted pillows, pot holders, upholstery fabric luggage, tote bags, shoe bags, garment bags, bookmarks, sewing kits and your many shared handwritten recipes. You were always finding the perfect household gadget  to give friends and family. Your children received many care packages filled with the most useful gadgets such as jar openers (quite a variety over the years!) or over-the-door clothes hooks, the perfect skinny spatula, or long-handled serving spoon, and I especially loved your homemade Scottish shortbread and Turtle candies.

You made of the most of each day and aged gracefully, never wanting to be burden and always so appreciative of any kindness, of our love and attention. And you sure loved to share a funny quip and laugh.  I love you and miss you.



Did Aunt Ellen ever tell you about the time I rolled up the car window on her hand and she had to get stitches?  We were leaving a Bunco game at Nobuko’s house on a hot afternoon and, in all fairness to me, I did warn everybody in the car I was about to roll up the windows so the AC could start getting us cool.  Aunt Ellen’s hand HAD NOT been in the window, but she put it up there to see if the window was open and OUCH!   

That situation reminds me of Aunt Ellen’s inquisitive nature.  She was always interested in a lot of subjects and in what we were doing in our lives.  I’m glad we got to include her in our special events, such as graduations, birthday celebrations and holidays, and in ordinary things like shopping.  

I appreciate her interest in my boys; she was always complimentary and affectionate to them!  

Aunt Ellen had a quick wit and I LOVED to hear her say “Yeah, Baby 😀!”  It always meant something good had happened…usually her partner was on a roll at Bunco!  I was always happy to be her partner!

Aunt Ellen was a treasure!!

Love, 
Seletta, Keith, Jason & Matt

We were raised on Mom's stories of growing up on the family's Molino, Florida farm, her big family, her mean dad and her loving mom who raised 12 children and 5 step-children, worked from sun up to sun down, a young one always on her hip. Her dad, JW, kept his children out of school to work the fields and only relented when forced by the state. He was a successful farmer, with so many children able to work the fields. They worked through the rain, 6 1/2 days a week, and the girls didn't wear hats to protect their heads from the sun. They got up before dawn to tend animals, grabbed a quick biscuit-bacon breakfast, and ran over a mile to school, barefoot, with biscuit lunch in hand. On cold mornings, her older brothers would head out first to build little fires along the path for the younger ones to warm their feet and hands.  

Mom was the first to get a high school diploma, and was allowed to continue past 6th grade only because she set a goal to be a teacher. If you didn't declare a professional goal, 6th grade was good enough. Because she started schooling at age 7 and was kept out so often, she graduated at age 20. Mom loved school, and then her four years as a single woman in Pensacola working as a secretary to the principle at Allie Yniestra grade school, teacher of learning challenged children, bookkeeper at CocaCola, and finally as a photo finisher at Stone Studios. 

 She loved and idolized her mother. She carried her anger toward her father all of her life, and then her bitterness toward my dad, whom she divorced after 39 years of marriage. 

She constantly warned her four children of bogeymen, wet and cold weather, and shysters; full of dire warnings.  On the flip side, mom was a sunny, spirited woman who let her children be children, organized lake-side Sunday picnics, movie trips and lots of play time with friends in our big backyard and basement. Mom loved being a mom, extended her care to neighbors and our classmates in need & loved sharing her garden.

We received many lovely notes with memories of mom. Marilyn and David appreciated her wit, her style, her enthusiasm for life and hope to reach 100.   Renee enjoyed her quick wit and beautiful smile.  Rand shared that she embodied grace, strength and relentless curiosity. Julia appreciated that she was so gracious, unassuming and down to earth. She first met Mom when she baked a delicious cake for the yoga “girls” birthday lunch in our Hoboken backyard. David was one of the yoga girls. And niece Mary Ann remembers how often she expressed her love for her brother Fred and extended her love to Mary Ann. Mom was poised and collected.  As Tedd noted, Mom’s are special people, especially ones like Eleanor. 

Carolyn, Joan and Bree,

I remember when your Mom would come down for visits for a week or two at a time.  We were really excited when we found out she would be moving to Pensacola.  From the minute she got here we started having fun.  We played bunco, games, went to plays, had family reunions, celebrated birthdays, shopped, saw Bellingrath Gardens and ate out way too many times to count.  All we’d have to do was ask and she would always say, “I’d love to.”  She was a very special aunt, and we will truly miss her and all the fun we had together.  Thanks for sharing her with us!

                                                                                               Sam, Kathy, Andrew and Amy

Mrs. Conover was always so kind and thoughtful.  I participated in several family vacations with her, her daughters and their husbands.  I always had a grand time visiting several national parks, Key West, Sanibel Island, and. her home with Bree and David in Pensacola.  She taught me how to enjoy the beauty of our country and how to relax and enjoy family by playing dice and card games.  She told wonderful stories of her life on the farm as a child growing up in Florida.
She sent me several hand quilted items that I still have.  She was a strong and beautiful woman and I am grateful to have known her.  Thank you Caroline, Joan, and Bree “my sistahs” for sharing your mom with me.  God Bless, Eleanor May she Rest In Peace.  With love, Chris

Gulf Coast Kid's House

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Fred, Feadore, Clara, Martin, Arthur, Albert, Carl, Dorothy, Caroline, Herman and Emanuel; son, Martin Conover. 
 Eleanor is survived by her children and their spouses, Carolyn and Jerry Evans, Joan Conover and Larry Reckers, Bree Conover and David Brewer; and grandson, Eric Evans and wife Leisa; siblings, Cornelia Gooden, John Hassebrock, Anne Jernigan, Harry Hassebrock, Edwin Hassebrock.

OBITUARY

Eleanor Anna Conover

January 20, 1922 – April 12, 2019

Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel

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