Eleanor Elizabeth MacLaren, 92
Published 10:03 am Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Eleanor Elizabeth MacLaren, 92, died in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2014. She is in heaven with her husband, Wallace; parents, Kenneth and Virginia Murphy; brother, Jack Murphy; sister, Doris Johnson; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doloris and Louis Franklin.
Eleanor was born on Oct. 26, 1921, and raised in Minneapolis, Minn. She graduated from the University of Minnesota as a dental hygienist. Eleanor moved to Austin, Minn., to work in a dental practice where she met her husband. Wally and Eleanor were married on Oct. 12, 1947. They had three children and remained in Austin until they moved to Colorado in 1969. Wally and Eleanor were the owners of MacLaren Office Supply in Trinidad, Colo. Wally died in 1973, and Eleanor continued to operate the business until she retired in 1996, when she moved to Arizona to live with her daughter Virginia. Eleanor enjoyed a robust life until September 2013 when she suffered a stroke.
Eleanor was an active businesswoman in the Trinidad Community. She was a member of the Stonewall Community Church, the Trinidad Historical Society, supported the local arts, and donated to many charities. Eleanor enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, and was a master scrabble player. She will be remembered as a kind soul with a loving heart who had a twinkle in her eye and a beautiful smile.
Eleanor is loved and survived by her children Virginia (William) Andersen, Daniel (Judy) MacLaren, and Doug MacLaren; her grandchildren William (Tobee)
Andersen, Tom Andersen, Tony (Cynthia) Andersen, Lynsay (Dietrick) MacLaren and Ryan (Kara) MacLaren; great grandchildren Bella and Layla Andersen, Christian and Sebastian Andersen, and Sierra MacLaren; nieces and nephews Marsha (Bill) Cooney, Dan (Sue) Franklin, Daryl (Joan) Franklin, Sue Johnson and many other relatives and friends.
The family plans to celebrate Eleanor’s life with a memorial service in June 2014 in Stonewall, Colo. Those who wish may donate to the Hospice of the West, 21410 North 19th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027.