Elinor B. (Brown) Spofford, 97, Taught at Bagnall School

Elinor B. (Brown) Spofford, 97, of Bradford, passed away Sunday Jan. 14, after a short illness.

She was born Jan. 5, 1921, daughter of Horace and Ruth (Trow) Brown. Spofford attended West Newbury public schools, graduating as the president of the class of 1938. She was a 1941 graduate of the Salem Hospital School of Nursing, and was one of the first students to graduate from Northern Essex Community College with an associates degree. She was a 1968 graduate of Salem State College with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education. She spent her teaching career at the Bagnall School in Groveland, from 1968 to1984.

She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Stanwood W. Spofford, who died in 2009. She is survived by two daughters, Kay Brown Spofford and her husband David Pulzetti, and Nancy A. Ryll and her husband David; three grandchildren Jaime, Kalyn and Erik Ryll and one great-grandson Devon Ryll-Spencer; a nephew and several nieces.

Elinor was a member of the First Church of Christ and was involved in the Women’s Fellowship and, with Stan, sang in the church choir for over 40 years. She was also a soloist at the All Saints Episcopal Church in West Newbury, MA. Elinor was a charter member of Haverhill Assembly #39, International Order of Rainbow for Girls and a member of Fidelity Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.

Spofford was a talented artist who was a member of the Arts and Crafts Society of Haverhill. She delighted family and friends with her art and crafts including watercolors, pen and ink sketches, handmade boxes and greeting cards, and homemade birthday cakes. She enjoyed writing and had written many stories about her experiences growing up in a small town.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral service Thursday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m. at H.L. Farmer and Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Bradford. Burial is private in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, West Newbury. An hour of visitation precedes the service Thursday, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the Bradford Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Church of Christ Bradford, 10 Church St., Bradford, MA 01835, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.