E. Tomkins Eleanor

Eleanor E. Tomkins, age 96, formerly of MacDougall, N.Y., passed away at St. Camillus Health Center in Syracuse on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.

Eleanor was born on Nov. 11, 1919, in Ovid, N.Y., and was the daughter of the late Bert and Mary (Asay) Egan. A graduate of Interlaken Central School, Eleanor and Kenneth Tomkins were married Oct. 28, 1939. They had celebrated 63 years together prior to his death in May 2003. Eleanor was employed as a dining room attendant at Willard State Psychiatric Center for 20 years. Prior working at Willard, Ken ran the family farm while Eleanor devoted her time to being a homemaker and raising her family. After their retirement, Ken and Eleanor spent several winters in Zephyrhills, Fla. She was a member of the West Fayette Presbyterian Church for nearly 60 years, and during her active years in the church, she held many different offices. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Friendship Chapter for more than 50 years, a member of the Home Bureau of MacDougall and the Varick Fire Department Auxiliary.

Eleanor dearly loved to spend time with her grandchildren. She and Ken spent many weekends camping and hiking with them around the central New York region and the Adirondack Mountains. A skilled seamstress, Eleanor designed and created a unique quilt for each one of her grandchildren. She was also an excellent cook and well known for her delicious baked goods, especially her sugar cookies and apple pie.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Knapp of Fort Pierce, Fla., Ellen (Tom) Harkness of Etna, N.Y., Joan (Frank)Eldred of Baldwinsville, N.Y ., and Jill Gage of Auburn, N.Y.; six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, one great- great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Eleanor was preceded in death by her siblings, Arthur, Llewellyn and Donald Egan, Margaret Proper, Thelma Herman, Elizabeth Egan and Ruth Turo.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Covert Funeral Home, 7199 South Main St., Ovid. The family will receive visitors at 1 pm. Prayers of committal will be held at Fayette Rural Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Eleanor❜s memory to the American Lung Association, 1595 Elmwood Ave., Suite B, Rochester, N.Y. 14620 (www.lung.org).