Lenore Grady McLeland
August 20, 1949 - July 28, 2023
Fort Worth, Texas - Lenore Grady McLeland, 73, died peacefully after a brief battle with cancer on Friday, July 28, 2023, in the city of her birth, Fort Worth.
Born to Lenore Bales Grady "Nonie" and Walter Raleigh "Rab" Grady on Aug. 20, 1949, she spent her entire life in Fort Worth.
As a young girl with a special love of ballet, Lenore attended Fort Worth Country Day. Following graduation from Arlington Heights High School, such was her love of ballet, she seriously considered pursuing classes in New York. She made her debut with The Assembly in 1969. Not long thereafter she married Charles Beggs Moncrief, and together they had two daughters. In 1981, she married Dan Howard McLeland, a union that produced a son and lasted until Dan's death in 2010.
Living a colorful "big life" in a big way, Lenore's abiding love of travel began early on while spending happy times in her family's home in Acapulco, Mexico, dubbed "Tres Changas," and in their home in Gunnison, Colorado, enjoyed now by five generations; and closer to home, in Port Aransas. So constant was her passion for travel that her children laugh, often not knowing (much less surprised about) the origin of her next phone call - just as easily from Istanbul as Joe T's. In tribute to her wanderlust, her children are dedicated to following through with a trip to Paris in November that Lenore had been planning to share with them.
Relishing the outdoors, Lenore was an avid fisherman and taught her children and their friends fly fishing on the Gunnison River. Her soul will forever be intertwined with Cebolla Creek where she reveled in the stillness and solitude she found there along with the promise of sizable catches. With a gift for lasting friendships and a generous and sharing nature, she was an enthusiastic and creative cook famous for her fried chicken and "world's best cheeseburgers," and when not in a foreign port of call she often presided over memorable large and lively dinners with lifelong friends. Typical of her wit, she once remarked to her brother Buck, "I smile because you are my brother; I laugh because there's nothing you can do about it." Those words instantly became part of the family lore.
As a grandmother Lenore was magical. Dubbed "NoNo" by the children, she poured creativity and imagination into their times together, from big spaghetti dinners awaiting their arrivals in Port Aransas to celebrating Christmases and other holidays with gifts - and more significantly, experiences - all tailored expressly to each one's individual tastes and interests. She delighted in sharing memories and tales of Camp Mystic with one to her passion for cooking with another to festive shopping outings with fashion advice to instilling a sense of adventure while not above employing a cheeky sense of humor with another. At two months, Lenore's youngest grandchild will not share those memories, but he will surely treasure the gift of her first words upon seeing him soon after his birth: "How handsome! He looks just like my father!" (with whom he shared his name).
Later in life Lenore was blessed by the special friendship of the late Bill Blake of Fort Worth and more recently, Buzz Kemble, also of Fort Worth.
She is survived by her brother, Buck Thompson of Azle, Texas with whom she had a special bond; daughter, Michelle Beggs Moncrief and her children, Carly Beggs Coleman, Campbell Bright Coleman, Charlie Blue Betty Coleman; son and daughter-in-law, Grady Paul and Jennifer McLeland with their children, Charlotte Anne Long McLeland, Andrew Bales Riley McLeland, Charles ("Charlie") Hayes Farrington McLeland, John Walter Grady McLeland, and William ("Wills") Raleigh Philip McLeland; and daughter, Lenore Moncrief.
A private family service is planned and her ashes will be spread in the Gunnison River. To celebrate her rich and full life she hoped for "y'all have fun at Joe T's and have nachos and margaritas."
Reflecting Lenore's love of nature and animals, her beloved corgis in particular, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saving Hope Animal Rescue of Fort Worth, or the Humane Society of Fort Worth.
We honor the exceptional care she received and the family would like to extend a special thank you to Jason Massengale, her best friend Brett Meekins, Jennifer McLeland, Dr. Charles Ewoh, Dr. Mary Milam, Dr. Harpreet Suri, and the Progressive Care Unit staff at Baylor Scott & White especially nurses Ashley, Elizabeth, and Amanda.