Elaine Colette Mrok

ELAINE COLETTE MROK, 57, died on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. She was born in Houston on August 30, 1954 to Leo Joseph and Venita Fitts Mrok, the third child in a lively household. Elaine took great pride in sharing her birthday with the City of Houston.

Elaine was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, with a heart bigger than Texas. She was always the guest with a beautiful smile, thoughtful card, and fabulous flowers. Her humor, generous spirit, and dedication to living life large will be greatly missed.

A fifth generation Texan, Elaine graduated from the University of Houston and remained a devoted Cougar football fan. Always a popular student, Elaine was crowned Miss Congeniality, Westbury High School Class of 1972.

She loved interpreting French recipes and sharing great meals and good wine with friends and family. She teamed with her brothers and sisters over the years and they “cooked with the best” in regional chili, barbecue, wild game, and gumbo competitions, winning several ribbons and taking first place honors in Galveston’s International Seafood Gumbo Cook-off.

Elaine joined the real estate industry a dozen years ago. She was a sales associate for John Daugherty Realtors, where her commitment to customer satisfaction was best summed up by her philosophy, “Together, we’ll take the right way home.” Her concern for her clients and their needs helped make her a consistent, high-level producer. She always believed that humor and tenacity go hand in hand – not only in successfully assisting clients achieve their goals, but also in tackling any of life’s challenges.

Earlier in her entrepreneurial career, Elaine and several family members were founders of Houston-based Superior Rentals & Design. She also helped her sister Jane, owner of Brenner’s Steakhouse, and brother Erik, owner of the historic Lenox Barbecue & Catering in Houston's East End, take care of their valued clients.

Elaine is survived by a large extended family, including her mother; sisters Susan O'Sullivan and husband Dean of Austin, and Anne Mrok-Smith and children, Meagan and John-Alexander; and brothers Leo Mrok, Jr., and Erik Mrok and wife Noni and children, Bianca, Reece, Nichole, and Michelle; cousins and other family members, and decades of friends and fans.

She was preceded in death by her beloved dad, a World War II veteran; sister Jane C. Mrok, and grandparents John and Mary Mrok of Holland, Michigan, and Johnnie Reece and Ida Mae Fitts of Linden, Texas.

The family thanks the staff and doctors of Hermann-Memorial and Kindred hospitals for their compassion and care.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm on Friday August 24, 2012 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012 in the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Michael Van Cleve will officiate. Interment will follow the service.

Pallbearers are Erik J. Mrok, Dean O'Sullivan, John-Alexander Smith, Reece Mrok, Trenton Torregrossa, Rogers Smith, Deputy Constable Calvet C. Shelley, and Zeke Moore, former Houston Oiler and Texas Peace Officer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Houston SPCA, HoustonSPCA.org, or to the charity of one's choice.