Eleanor Mae McLees Aven, went to her final glory on July 1, 2017, at the age of 82, in Cedar Park, Texas. Eleanor formerly lived in Rix Mills, Ohio, Waco, Texas, Spring City, Pennsylvania, and Cedar Park, Texas.

Eleanor was born July 3, 1934 in Rich Hill Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, to the late Lewis Gail McLees and Elsie Elliott McLees. She was the eldest of four children and grew up on a dairy farm. During childhood, Eleanor was active in 4-H Club of Muskingum County, and won many state and national awards showing registered Jersey dairy cattle. She excelled academically, graduating from Chandlersville High School as valedictorian in 1952. Eleanor received an academic scholarship to The Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1956.

Eleanor married Donald Neal, Sr., an officer in the Air Force, in 1954, and they were stationed in Oregon, Alabama, and Texas during their married life.

After a divorce, Eleanor married Billy Gene Aven in 1979, they lived in Axtell, Texas, raising horses and cattle until Bill's death in 1998. As a Registered Nurse since 1957, Eleanor worked in many healthcare facilities during her career, including hospitals in North Bend, Oregon and Waco, Texas, the Veterans Administration, Methodist Children's Home, and several nursing homes.

In retirement, she developed an avid interest in genealogy. Her hobby took her to attics all across Ohio to rescue letters, photos, and artifacts from relatives of the McLees, Tom, Elliott, and Pettit families. Much of her research and writing can be found in the Muskingum County Library or at the Muskingum County Genealogical Society.

Known as "Lynn" to friends and affectionately called "Mother D" by her children, Eleanor is survived by three daughters, Deborah Neal McCash of Waco, Cynthia Tidwell Johnston (Randy) of Wichita, Kansas, and Diane Neal Herrera (Mike) of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; son, Don Neal, Jr. (Teresa) of Austin, Texas; three sisters, Gayla Smith (Earl) of Norwich, Ohio, Janet Sebach (Larry) of Zanesville, Ohio, and Martha Hughes (Dick) of New Concord, Ohio; four grandchildren, Carolyn Neal Hogberg (Daniel) of Austin, Texas, Richard McCash (Rebekah) of Waco, Hannah Neal Cotten (Jake) of Austin, Texas, and Grace Neal of Austin, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Ciera McCash of Waco, and Hope and Noah Hogberg, of Austin.

Eleanor was predeceased by her parents, Gail and Elsie McLees; her second husband, Bill Aven; and son, Michael "Mikey T" Tidwell (Joyce) of San Marcos, Texas.