Eleanor Jane Johnson McLean

Eleanor Jane Johnson McLean passed away Tuesday, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 92. Eleanor was born on September 3, 1922 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where she lived with her parents, Hazel & L.F. Johnson. Eleanor was a beautiful woman in all ways. She won the Miss Ponca City Beauty Pageant and the picture and trophy commemorating that moment have been for many years a fond remembrance of Eleanor’s early days. Her dad owned a clothing store and successful real estate business, both of which she worked in while she was growing up.

In high school, she was voted “Miss Football Sweetheart,” Vice President of the student body, and she finished in second place with her partner in the women’s doubles tennis high school state championship. She attended Oklahoma University, where she was President of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority as a sophomore.

While at OU, she fell in love with J.W. “Bill” McLean and they were married after he graduated in 1943. Throughout their marriage, she was a constant source of strength and support in helping Bill build his career, which took them from Tulsa to Houston, to San Francisco and back to Oklahoma City. In each city, she was active in the family’s church, the children’s schools & parent organizations and numerous other organizations. She served as a Trustee of Oklahoma City University. She also had her own interior decorating business in which she worked on personal residences and offices and provided most of the major decorative pieces of furniture used in the Liberty National Bank building in Oklahoma City, which was built in the 1970’s. Eleanor and Bill loved Spanish architecture and furnishings, and they built seven homes together. . .most marriages do not survive the building of one!

She was a great mom, grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law. She loved to hear about everything her family was doing. She was quick to provide encouragement and was always a patient listener when a loved one faced a challenge. Her commitment to marriage, family, faith and unconditional love were all gifts she gave us.

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, J.W. “Bill” McLean. She is survived by her children, Margo Beasley and her son Mark Parker, Larry McLean and his wife Marci and daughter, Meredith, Scott McLean and his wife Anna and their children, Kate, Peter and David, her niece, Barbara McLean, and cousins Bill Coleman, Julie Coleman, Margie Becker and Marty Batey.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX, with a graveside service at Glenwood Cemetery to follow. Pallbearers are Mark Parker, Bill Coleman, Peter McLean, David McLean, Mark Spradling and Frank Merrick. The family would like to express their appreciation to the skilled nursing staff of Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas and Pastors Brent Ashby and Carolyn Mitchell. In lieu of flowers, the family would request any donations be directed to Presbyterian Village North (Dallas, Texas), Faith Presbyterian Hospice or St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.