Laconia-----Elaine Lillian Browning Townsley, 87, of 406 Court Street, died at the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility, on Thursday, March 6, 2014. She was the widow of Frederick L. Townsley who died in 1985.
Mrs. Townsley was born January 6, 1927 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Robert F. Browning and Lillian (Butler) Browning Walker. She had been a resident of Laconia for the past sixty three years.
Mrs. Townsley was a graduate of Laconia High School class of 1944 and a graduate of Colby College class of 1948. She was co owner of Rails and Crafts in Laconia for twenty years and worked in retail sales for Laconia Hardware for thirty five years retiring in 2001.
Mrs. Townsley was a 4-H Club member and first winner of the 1946 Governor Dale 4-H Trophy. She became a 4-H leader and active in the 4-H Foundation, 4-H Fair Association and 4-H Leaders Association. Mrs. Townsley was past president of the Belknap County Extension Council, past president of the Laconia Altrusa club and a member of the Train Collectors of America. She was a member of the Opechee Garden Club, Laconia Downtown Association, Sanbornton ZBA, Belknap County Farm Bureau and Laconia Art Association. Mrs. Townsley was a member of St. James Episcopal Church and the women’s Vestry and Altar Guild.
Mrs. Townsley enjoyed gardening, water color painting and her pets and mini-farm animals. She most of all enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Mrs. Townsley is survived by a daughter, Sara Lillian Hardy, of Hampton, VA; seven grandchildren, Christopher Hardy, Geoffrey Hardy, Greg Hardy, Jessica Hardy, Robert Van Aman, Brent Van Aman and Matthew Townsley; seven great grandchildren; five nephews and five nieces. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by sisters, Mrs. Margaret Windle, Mrs. Winifred Thornton, Mrs. Ilene Rifenberg, a daughter, Barbara Jean Thayer, and a son, Dudley Walter Townsley.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, March 10, 2014 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance.
A Funeral Service will follow the calling hours at 6:00pm.
A memorial gathering will be held at St Francis on March 13, 2014.
Spring Burial will be in the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Gilford, NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Huntington Foundation, 6 Boston Road Suite 203A, Chelmsford, MA, 01824.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.