By Jim Meridith
Posted: Updated:
6 Comments
  • Visitation

    Tuesday evening December 28, 2021

    4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

    Ingram-Meridith Funeral Home, 201 E Church St, West Salem, IL

  • Service

    Wednesday December 29, 2021

    10:00 a.m.

    Marion Christian Church, West Salem, Illinois

  • Full Obituary

    Eleanor Jeanne Johnson Spray Seals, aged 88, passed into her eternal home with Jesus on December 25, 2021.  She was born October 13, 1933, to Fred and Sadie (Weber) Johnson.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John D. Spray, husband Tom Seals, sister Neoma Sunderland, daughter Sharon Lee Spray, son-in-law Howard Newlin, step-father Frank Mitchell, and step-sisters Ina Lee Sample and Vernelle Smith.

    She is survived by five children, Randy and Charlotte Spray of Greenup, Illinois, Anita Newlin of Patoka, Illinois, Janet and Ron Hayes of Hideaway, Texas, Nancy and Bill Greathouse of West Salem, Illinois, and John and Audrey Spray of Albion, Illinois, and eleven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

    She was a life-long member of Marion Christian Church, West Salem, Illinois where her funeral and burial will be on Wednesday, December 29, 10:00 a.m.

    Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Ingram-Meridith Funeral Home, 201 E Church St, West Salem, IL.

    Eleanor’s family has requested memorial offerings be sent to Oblong Children’s Christian Home 4094 E. 1050th Avenue, Oblong, IL 62449.

    Interment: Marion Christian Church Cemetery

    Ingram Meridith Funeral Home, West Salem, IL.

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

6 Condolences
 
  1. Amy Kemp / December 27, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Oh, how I loved visiting Eleanor when I worked for the Children’s Home in Oblong. Upon occasion, I’d bring her a sundae from Dairy Queen, and at her kitchen table we would sit and talk over a bowl of leftover chowder and dessert from DQ. We had known each other in a former life, we learned, as we sang in the choir together at First Christian Church in Champaign many moons ago. Holding her frail hands, together we raised prayers for the Home and for our families. She blessed me more than I can say. Heaven gained an incredible soul, and Sharon got her mama back, too. Smiling and saddened all at the same time over this news.

  2. Laura McCurdy / December 28, 2021 at 7:15 am

    I am so very sorry to hear of Eleanor’s death. I have known her, her entire life. I was going to Marion Christian church when Eleanor was born. She was a lovely Christian woman. I send my deepest sympathy to her family
    Laura McCurdy.

  3. Linda Youngblood / December 28, 2021 at 11:01 am

    My Aunt Eleanor was an Angel on Earth! Such a soft gentle voice and sweet smile! I don’t think I’ve ever heard an unkind word from her! I am saddened for her family, but I know her Homecoming in Heaven is something we can all be happy about! Aunt Eleanor please give my parents, brother, grandparents & your daughter Sharon a big hug for me! RIP!😘

  4. curtis ingram / December 28, 2021 at 4:29 pm

    Sorry to hear of Eleanor’s passing.
    You have our sympathy
    Curtis and Dolores Ingram

  5. Michael R Williams / December 31, 2021 at 9:16 am

    One of the finest Christian ladies we’ve ever known.

  6. Gayle Wildman / January 29, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear about Eleanor’s passing. I was going through an old address book this afternoon, and when I saw Eleanor’s name, I did a quick search only to find her obituary. I worked with Eleanor at the University of Illinois Office for Capital Programs (first on Sixth Street and then in a new UI Bookstore Building across from Henry Administration, Champaign) in the early/mid 80s. We were both secretaries just learning to use computers instead of typewriters. I always admired Eleanor’s hard work ethic and no-nonsense outlook on life. Praying for much comfort to her whole family. – Gayle W.

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