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Lenoir Hatfield Deans was born on August 21, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Arthur William Hatfield and the late Clarice Helen (LaGesse) Hatfield. She was the second oldest of five children. She passed away peacefully in her Traverse City home on November 8, 2024. She was raised in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago and attended Kelvyn Park High School from which she graduated in 1947. She next attended Brigham Young University where she majored in English with an Art minor. While attending BYU she met the love of her life, Ronald Earl Deans of Tuba City, AZ, whom she married on September 9, 1950. Upon graduation the couple moved to Chicago, where they built a home in Warrenville, IL and Lenoir began teaching first grade. Lenoir and Ron were the proud parents of three children. They moved the family to Western Springs, IL in 1962 where they remained until 1996 at which time, they moved to Traverse City, MI to be near their children and grandchildren. Lenoir was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lenoir and Ron’s house was always full of extended family, whether in Western Spring to enjoy the pool or in Traverse City to play in the bay. She enjoyed the beach and sailing and entertaining all those who came to participate. She was an attentive hostess, cook, homemaker, painter, seamstress and knitter, and she was always busy serving others. No one ever left Lenoir’s house hungry, and they might leave with a newly knit pair of mittens. There was always plenty to go around, and an empty seat at the table for whomever would show up. Lenoir was a doer and could answer the question, “have I done any good in the world today” with a resounding,Yes!. She lived her life in accordance with her motto which was embodied on her license plate, FUN821. Lenoir was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Earl Deans, her elder sister Mary Jane (Surprenant) Dempsey and her younger brother, Arthur William Hatfield. Lenoir is survived by her sisters, Nancy (Hatfield) Filichia and Elodie (Hatfield) Payne, her children, Royce Elliott (Kim) Deans, Clarissa Deans (Rob) Lewis, Tafel Jane (Michael) Hutchison, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Arrangements provided by Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home, our family serving yours.

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Lenoir Hatfield Deans

August 21, 1929 - November 8, 2024