ELOISE H. ARNOLD

1930-2020

Eloise Bushnell Arnold

March 21, 1930 – December 19, 2020

Eloise Bushnell Arnold, age 90, passed away in Houston, Texas on December 19, 2020 following a short illness. Known as “Gram” to her extensive family, Eloise was born March 21, 1930 in Birmingham, Alabama to James Adrian Holley and Ella Dunn Holley. Eloise graduated from High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, moved to New York City in 1948 to study art and worked at the Bulova watch factory.

Eloise met her first husband, Eugene Clancy, in New York and they were married on August 22, 1951. They had four children: Gene, James, Dennis and Kathleen. Eugene passed away from lung cancer in October 1956 at the early age of 33. He is buried in Mount Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing Queens, NY.

Eloise moved to Meadow Creek Village in Houston with her parents and brothers James and William. She there joined St. Augustine Catholic Parish and met Burton William Arnold, “Burt”, as he was known to his many friends and family. Burt was also a widower and had four young daughters: Stephanie, Jackie, Jeanette, and Bernadette. The two “widows” were encouraged by fellow church-members to go to a single’s dance together (“…It’s just a date, it’s not like you’re going to marry…”).

Eloise and “Burt” were married on May 12, 1962, bringing their brood to 8, but they didn’t stop there. Eloise and Burt had five additional children: Christine, Therese, Greg, Stephen, and Michelle. Burt passed away after a long illness on November 14, 2013 at the age of 84.

Eloise is survived by 12 of her 13 children: Eugene Clancy (Darlene), James Clancy (Peggy), Stephanie Cosby, Katie Clancy, Jackie Flemming (Dave), Jeanette Goebel (George), Bernadette Brown (Robert), Christine Nelson, Therese Arnold, Greg Arnold (Sherrie), Stephen Arnold (Isabel), and Michelle Hicks (David). Dennis passed away on April 7, 2014. She was blessed with 20 grandchildren, 19 greatgrandchildren, and 3 great great-grandchildren. Eloise leaves behind her dear cat, Popper.

Eloise was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She was an excellent cook who rarely used recipes and could recreate delicious meals she was served at restaurants.

She loved reading books, particularly the Bible and books about the Bible. She also enjoyed painting and was even a part time art teacher at St. Augustine in the 1970’s. She loved nature and natural history as well as art and archaeology.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or the charity of your choice.

We love you and will greatly miss you Gram!!