ELEANOR MCCURDY obituary

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. - Eleanor Clack McCurdy, 90, died peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, in Seattle.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on March 20 at the First Presbyter-ian Church in Port Townsend, Wash.

McCurdy was born on Sept. 26, 1913, in Havre to

Henry Earl and Margaret Turner Clack. During her childhood she worked on the family ranch and grew up riding, hunting and fishing with her brother and sisters.

After graduating from Havre High School, Eleanor attended the University of Washington, where she met and married Richard Francis McCurdy, a native of Port Townsend who became editor and publisher of the Port Townsend Leader newspaper.

During World War II, while her husband was in the U.S. Army, Eleanor returned with her children to her parents' home in Havre. Her husband returned from the war in 1945 and the family once again resided in Port Townsend, where they became distinguished arts patrons and civic leaders.

Eleanor was active in the Dr. Francis Delaney Guild of Children's Hospital, Community Concerts of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, S.L.A., and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. In later years, she was a strong supporter of Centrum Arts and Jefferson General Hospital, where she was memorials chairman for many years.

Eleanor will be remembered as an elegant woman and gracious hostess who enjoyed social occasions with her many friends. One of her great pleasures was playing bridge with a group that called itself the "Blaine and Quincy Tosspots." She enjoyed her flower garden and created lovely floral arrangements. She loved to read and possessed a remarkable vocabulary, a quick wit and an engaging sense of humor. An extensive traveler, she was proud to have visited most of the world's great art museums. One of the highlights of her travels was the two years she lived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, with her husband and young son, Richard Jr. While there, she met and enjoyed continuing friendships with people from all parts of the world.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 1987, and grandson Jason Andrew Lee in 1984.

Survivors include her sister, Margaret Clack Askew Cooper of Memphis, Tenn., and Whitefish; sister-in-law, Barbara McCurdy Hill of Seattle; children, Betsy (Larry) Lee, Catherine (John) Chatalas of Seattle, Richard (Mary) McCurdy Jr. of Bainbridge Island, Wash .; grandchildren, Charles Lee of Sammamish, Wash., Cassandra Lee of Houston, Texas, Jody Chatalas and Helen Chatalas, both of Seattle, Winslow McCurdy of Bainbridge Island, Emma McCurdy and Beth McCurdy, both of London, England; two great-grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Centrum Arts, P.O. Box 1158, or Jefferson General Hospital, 834 Sheridan Ave., both at Port Townsend, WA, 98368.