Douglas, Mary Eleanor Kiker (Mrs. Luman E.)
2/1/1994
| On May 29, 1910, in Harbin, Texas, Mary Eleanor Kiker was born to David Newton Kiker and his wife, Exa Eleanor Spratt Kiker. Eleanor grew up and attended Tarlton Junior College, which is now North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. After achieving her education and certification as a teacher, she taught school in Dublin, Texas. It was in Dublin that Eleanor maintained her spiritual quest as a member of the local Methodist Church, and typical of her degree of dedication in any pursuit she was the pianist for the church services. In those early years, few people had personal transportation, and Eleanor made it possible for the young pastor to assume escort duty in addition to other pastoral responsibilities. This he was quite willing to do, and as he, Luman Douglas, later expressed to his friends, “I have taken her for a long, long ride!” Eleanor and Luman were married on December 28, 1932, and began a family and a ministry together as a beautiful team. Their family circle expanded to include a daughter, Martha Carolyn Douglas and later her husband, Wayne Fulmer. The Fulmers’ three daughters, Marty, Connie and Vicky, added joyful inspiration to Eleanor and Luman. These three with their husbands have now added three great-grandchildren to the family heritage. Eleanor loved her family with a deep and tender glow, and they returned the treasure in their love for their “Munner.” The team that formed the church in Dublin, Texas, carried out a long and fruitful ministry. Eleanor was ever the gracious wife and hostess in every circumstance, whether in the parsonage of the smallest congregation or the center of a district over which she and Luman presided. She assumed varied responsibilities in the church, Sunday School, Women’s work, community service and wherever her abilities were needed and sought. Hers was never a seeking of status but an availability for service, and those of us who were fortunate enough to have her as a personal friend were blessed beyond price. On February 1, 1994, in Baton Rouge, Eleanor brought her life and ministry to a close, and went to rejoin her beloved Luman, to praise God together without separation forevermore. The afterglow of her life will remain to inspire all who knew and loved her. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference 1994, p. 250 By Dr. Douglas L. McGuire | |
