Eleanor "Ellie" Hancock Deacon

Deacon, Eleanor Hancock, "Ellie" age 76, of Feather Sound passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Born in South Bend, IN to John and Elizabeth Hancock, Eleanor graduated from the Stone Ridge Academy in Bethesda, MD and then went to the University of Miami where she met her husband Ken. After Ken graduated, he went to Naval OCS in Newport, RI. While he was there, they became engaged. In 1961, Ellie married Ken at St. Vincent's Church in St. Pete and the next day they got in Ellie's Plymouth and drove to Corpus Christi. They were married for just under 56 years. Ellie's mother had long maintained that the marriage would never last. Ellie was retired from The Florida Gulf Health Systems Agency. It was while she was employed there that she went back to Eckerd College to get her Bachelor of Arts degree. Ellie was interested in community service and spent many years as a member of the Juvenile Welfare Board, and she worked tirelessly for that organization. While she was in college at Miami, she was a member of Tri-Delta Sorority and for years, in St. Petersburg, she served as the President of the Tri-Delta alumnae Association. She was very active in the St. Petersburg Bar Auxiliary. Ellie started working at the St. Petersburg Science Center. While working for the Director of the Center, she was asked to teach Herpetology (Study of Snakes) to young school kids, she agreed to do it without hesitation. The St. Pete Times wrote an article about her, calling her the "Charming Snake Charmer". Ellie was always impeccably dressed and was awarded The Women's Service League "best groomed" for four Consecutive years. All during this time she was continuing to work in charitable endeavors including Boly Manor and other organizations. Ellie spent many summers and winters at their second home in Mt. Crested Butte, CO where she took up hiking and skiing and became a member of the Butte Beauties. Ellie enjoyed playing bridge with friends and spending time with her family. Ellie is survived by her husband, Kenneth C. Deacon Jr. and her children, son, Kenneth C. Deacon III (Nancy), daughters, Elizabeth A. Piatt, (Doug), and Eleanor C. Raniszewski, (Tim) and grandchildren, Natalie Marie Deacon and Michael Spencer Piatt. A Gathering of friends and family is scheduled for 1 o'clock on Saturday, December 3, at Anderson McQueen funeral home located at 2201 Dr. Marin Luther King St. North. That will be followed by a service at 2 o'clock also at Anderson McQueen. Following the service, family, friends and neighbors are invited to a Celebration of Life at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club located at 11 Central Avenue.