, 95, of Daytona Beach, Florida, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2014, at her home following an extended illness. A native of Alabama, she was the daughter of the Honorable Jesse Norton Mullins and Irma Beach Purcell Mullins, of Dothan. After receiving degrees in music from Florida State College for Women (now FSU), she also attended the Columbia Teacher’s College in New York and the Peabody School of Music in Nashville. A lifelong professional singer and music educator, Mrs. Christeson moved to Florence with her husband, Wayne, where she became the Choral Director for the First Christian Church, taught at Phil Campbell College, and joined the faculty of the University of North Alabama. She also maintained an active private studio, and, with her husband’s assistance, staged several full operatic productions with the voice students. After her retirement in 1978, Eleanor enjoyed a very interesting, energized life as a world traveler, gardener,
lover of nature, bridge player, and reader. She and her husband relocated to Daytona Beach in 1995, where she was active in the arts community and Port Orange Presbyterian Church where she continued to sing in the adult choir through her 80s.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Ann Donia.
Survivors include her husband of 72 years, Wayne Christeson, of Daytona Beach; two sons, Wayne Christeson Jr. (Anne) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Norton Christeson (Jane), of Daytona Beach; and three grandchildren, Frank Donia (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Jesse Christeson (Jackson, Mississippi), and Jordan Christeson (Chicago, Illinois). A memorial service celebrating the life of Eleanor will be held in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Florence, where her husband was music director for many years, today at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the National Park Foundation either online at nationalparks.org
or by mail to 1201 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20005.
