Eleanor "Twoey" Standefer

Eleanor “Twoey” Standefer, 83 of Hillsboro passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at her residence. A memorial service to honor her memory will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013, at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.

Twoey was the oldest of two children born to John Fisher and Mildred Ross Willard. She came by her nickname as she was the second Eleanor in the family and was named by her namesake Ella Virginia Ross. You truly couldn’t call her a second as she was the star of the Standefer household and the adopted mother to many HISD students. Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, she graduated from North Dallas High School in 1946 and married her husband of 57 years, John A Standefer, on June 4, 1949.

Looking back to her life in the 50’s and 60’s you would have found a very active and busy mother involved in Philotechnos Kindergarten, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, She was a great cook and known for her Twoey’s casseroles, icebox cookies, homemade rolls and Saturday Night Specials (egg sandwiches). She played golf at the Hillsboro County Club and utilized her math skills by keeping the handicap scores for the golfers and batting averages for her children’s baseball teams. An avid reader of mysteries and science fiction, she has a house full of books stuck in every nook and cranny. Twoey was also a world traveler and went to great lengths to bring back special rocks for her collection. She loved games and was one of the luckiest people at bridge, spades, hearts, blackjack and spite and malice. Most would say she was a bridge player extraordinaire.

In the late sixties she attended college at the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics in August of 1970. She promptly began teaching at Hillsboro High School in 1970, teaching algebra, geometry, chemistry, physics and later physical science. Her students often complained that she was too tough of a teacher, but many came back to tell her how much she helped them and how much they valued her: “She was one of the most influential people in my life”. She taught kids and their kids. Several said she helped them get through high school as she was always willing to tutor students before and after class: “The best math teacher I ever knew”; “What an amazing lady. I will never forget how she molded me into a good student”; “She was one of my favorite teachers of all time”; “She was such a positive influence in all of our lives.”

When asked about some of the highlights of her teaching career, she said it was graduating some very intelligent ladies and gentleman and raising intelligent hard-working children, all of whom she loved.

During and after her retirement from teaching for over 20 years, Twoey opened an arts and crafts business known as Twoey’s Corner. She continued to teach oil painting, needlepoint and cross-stitch. The family is blessed with many beautiful paintings and needlework, courtesy of Mama Two.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant son, Thomas Lee Standefer; a sister, Sue V. Olivier; a grandson, Jared Standefer; and a nephew, Neill Garner.

Survivors include a brother-in-law, Roy Olivier of Richardson; children, Judith Standefer of Hillsboro, John A. Standefer, Jr. and wife, Bevan, of Frisco, Susan Swilling and husband, Bob, of Whitney, Elizabeth Reed and husband, Norman, of Diana, and Virginia Hajovsky and husband, Glen, of Dayton; grandchildren Allen Reed, Matt Swilling, Lauren Standefer, Ellie Clingan, Angie Rentz, Becky Swilling, Tamara Hajovsky, Jessica Hajovsky ,Caitlin Reed and Laykin Hajovsky; great-grandchildren, Caleb and Hailey Clingan, Trinton Reed, Elaina and Claire Rentz, and Max Swilling; nieces, Stephanie Olivier and Bonnie June Wilbur; and nephews, Brent Standefer, Roy Olivier, Jr and Nick Olivier.

Memorials can be directed to HISD Education Foundation, Hill County Paw Pals, or the charity of one’s choice.