Eleanor E. Beaudry was born in Houghton, Michigan and spent all but two years of her life in the area. Ms. Beaudry enlisted in the WAVES during World War II and worked as a recruiter in Ohio and lower Michigan. Upon returning home she considered attending college on the GI Bill but couldn't find a course that suited her. Instead she took flying lessons and completed the commercial pilot's course given at Michigan College of Mining and Technology in Houghton. Failing the physical she received only a private license instead of the commercial license. She worked at the Houghton-Hancock (Mich.) Chamber of Commerce as secretary for 32 years in addition to doing the tourist advertising for the Copper Country Vacationist League. Ms. Beaudry joined the Civil Air Patrol as well as the American Legion where she served three terms as post commander and two terms as vice-commander of the Upper Peninsula association of legion posts.