Eleanore Mae Hickman

Eleanore Mae Hickman, 100, of Emlenton passed away Friday at Sugar Creek Station.

She was born on July 12, 1916, in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County.

She was the youngest of six siblings of John G. Vorous and Estella L. Sharrar Vorous.

Eleanore attended the one-room McCoy Public School until eighth grade, before graduating from Emlenton High School. It was Eleanore's job to help her family's dairy farm by delivering milk every morning using a horse and wagon before school.

On Feb. 7, 1933, at the age of 16, she and Harry Lewis Hickman Jr. eloped. They drove to West Virginia and ate Swiss steak and peach pie at their secret wedding dinner.

In 1937 her first son, Larry W. Hickman, was born, followed in 1940 by her twins, Ronald and Rita.

Eleanore and Harry founded the Hickman Lumber Company in 1938. They ran the company together, Mrs. Hickman was the secretary and receptionist for many years before retiring in 1975. Eleanore and Harry enjoyed 65 happy years together before her beloved Harry passed away in 1997.

They were lifetime members of the Rankin Chapel UMC, Scrubgrass Grange, and Eleanore was a member of the United Methodist Women of the Church. In 2010, she and her developmentally disabled son, Ronald, were featured in the documentary film “Eleanore and the Timekeeper,” which showed in film festivals around the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Ida M. Campbell, Edna E. Johnston and Mary M. Campbell; two brothers, John G. and William S. Vorous; her daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Rita Wilmouth; and her granddaughter, Lauren Best.

Eleanore leaves behind a large, loving family, including five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Her secrets to longevity included eating two eggs for breakfast every morning and drinking frequent Pina Coladas.

Her family wishes to thank the staff of Sugar Creek Station, the VNA Hospice nurses, the Ace family and Kay Parker for taking such good care of Eleanore during her final years.

Donations can be made to the Easter Seals Foundation, as well as the Venango VNA Hospice.

HICKMAN — The family of Eleanore Mae Hickman, who died Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and again from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home, 109 Emlenton St., Clintonville.The funeral service will take place at the funeral home at noon Tuesday with the Rev. Denise Mains of Rankin Chapel Church officiating.Condolences can be e-mailed by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net.