Ellen Spofford, 86, Was Former Town Secretary

Ellen Louise (Schmitt) Spofford, 86, formerly of 11 Sharon Circle, Merrimac, died Thursday, Oct. 31, at Hannah Duston Nursing Long Term Care in Haverhill. She was the wife of the late Arnold (Spof) Spofford, who died in 1995.

Born in Newark, N.J., on August 19, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Arthur W. and Louise M. (Zimmerman) Schmitt.

Mrs. Spofford was a secretary to the superintendent of the Pentucket School District in West Newbury before becoming secretary to the board of selectmen in the town of Merrimac, retiring in 1973, when she and her husband moved to Martha's Vineyard.

She was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church of Merrimac and the Women's Guild of the Church. She was also a former member of Christ United Methodist Church in Vineyard Haven.

Her survivors include a daughter, Carol "Sue" Ranshaw, and her husband, James, of Merrimac; a son, Donald W. Spofford of Ayer; a sister, Carol Conkey of Briny Breezes, Fla.; three grandchildren, Linda Morse of Danville, N.H.; Robert Francis of Merrimac and Rhoda Foley of Palm Coast, Fla.; two step-grandchildren, Colleen Ranshaw-Fiorello of Merrimac and Janice Hollow of Fulton, N.Y.; 12 great-grandchildren and four nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Merrimac at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. Interment in will be private. By request of the family, there will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Pilgrim Congregational Church, 27 Church Street, Merrimac, MA 01860, or to Beacon Hospice, 100 Cummings Court, Suite 129G, Beverly, MA 01915. Arrangements are by Paul C. Rogers & Sons Funeral Home, 36 West Main street, Merrimac.