Eleanor Shult

Eleanor Shult, age 73, of Orange, Texas, died July 22, 2014 at Golden Years Assisted Living.

Born on February 26, 1941, she was the daughter of Dr. C. I. Shult and Estelle Shult and grew up in Columbus, Texas, before moving to Orange after graduating from Southwestern University. Known to many of her friends as “Schultzie”, she spent most of her working years teaching in various Orange elementary schools, including several years teaching gifted and talented youngsters. She was very active in First Methodist Church, serving on various committees including Buildings and Grounds, and particularly enjoyed participating in the tradition of Emmaus Walks.

Eleanor loved traveling during the summer with her longtime good friend Ann Olliff, especially to the Fraser/Winter Park area of the Colorado Rockies and to a beach house in Rockport. She was an accomplished and prolific gardener, creator of detailed and beautiful cross-stitch pieces, and also produced amazing woodworking projects, from life-sized Christmas reindeer yard decorations to toy trucks for her nephew. Many Orange friends fondly recall her annual deliveries of a variety of Christmas cookies. She always had an optimistic outlook, a great sense of humor, and loved to tease and “cut-up”, as she called it, with her students and friends.

She is survived by her sister, Linda Shult and partner John Kelly of Madison, Wisconsin; nephew Kelsea Shult-Lewis of Roseville, Minnesota; and Ann Olliff and her son Jim Olliff and family. Many thanks to Kristi Shelton and the wonderful staff at Golden Years Assisted Living for their loving care of Eleanor during her last few months.

A celebration of Eleanor’s life will be held on Saturday August 16 at 10:30 in the chapel of First Methodist Church in Orange