Eleanor Jane Deal

Eleanor Jane Williams Markel Deal, age 88, of Homewood at Crumland Farms, Frederick, MD, died November 13, 2013. She was born September 20, 1925 in Gorman, MD, to M.E. “Doc” and Ethel Schwartz Williams and was raised in Gormania, WV. She married Henry E. Deal on April 5, 1963, and they resided in McHenry, MD. Her first marriage to J.F. Markel (deceased) ended in divorce.

During high school, Eleanor enjoyed playing on the Bayard High School basketball team. After graduating from Potomac State College Eleanor became a secretary in Washington, DC, for the Department of Agriculture.  Leaving her job in Washington when her father became ill, she helped him run Williams Esso Service Center in Gormania, WV. Upon his retirement and sale of the station, Eleanor returned to secretarial work with various companies in the Garrett County, MD, area.  Eventually, she began working for the Garrett County Board of Education as an aide and finished her working career as the secretary for Southern Middle School.

Eleanor was very proud of her service as a ground observer for the air corps after World War II.  She also enjoyed hunting, reading, bingo, and traveling and became an artist after retirement. She was a founding member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company.  She was very active in the Garrett County Business & Professional Women as well as the Presbyterian churches in Gormania and Mt. Storm, WV.  She was ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA, following the tradition of her parents and both sets of grandparents. Spending time with her family was her greatest pleasure.

Eleanor is survived by her children: daughter, Karen Markel Howser and husband, Ken, of Walkersville, MD, son, Douglas W. Markel and wife, Grace, of Jacksonville, FL, daughter, Jo Ann Deal Shultz, and husband, Michael, of Spring Hill, TN, and step-daughter, Margaret Deal Morgan, of Oakland, MD. Also surviving are her 10 grandchildren: Scott Frazee, Amy Howser, Heather Markel, Emma Howser, Jennifer Bennett, Rachel Howser, Nicholas Markel, Jeffery Shultz, Dominique Markel, and Brianna Love, and 17 great-grandchildren.  She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, Henry, and her brother, Donald F. Williams.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Eleanor W. Deal will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16 in the chapel at Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD, 21702, with inurnment in Garrett County Memorial Gardens, Oakland, MD later that day.

If so desired, memorial contributions can be made to the Benevolent Fund at Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7404 Willow Road, Frederick, Md, 21702.

Arrangements are by Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A. of Frederick and Stauffer Crematory, Inc. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com .

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