Mary Fifield Obituary

CANTERBURY - Mary Ellen Fifield died peacefully in Canterbury Thursday, February 7, 2013. Mary Ellen was born June 16, 1928 to Clarence and Mary Glines Fife, both deceased, from Canterbury. On October 12, 1950, she married Oliver Fifield, at the Canterbury Community Church.

At her request, her husband of 62 years, family and extended family were with her on the last day and moments of her life. Mary Ellen's daughter Naomi Scanlon and husband David, grandchildren Rachel, Jessica, Megan and Kathryn, great-grandchildren Jacob and Caroline; daughter Ann Berry and husband Jay, granddaughters Cate and Rorie, and great grandson Wyatt, step-grandchildren Max and Levi Berry; daughter Janet and John Valdez, grandchildren Oliver, Jonathan and Mercedes; son Steve Fifield and wife Betty Gail Ladd, grandson Oliver; daughter Abby Ladd and husband David, grandchildren Ian, Sarah Ashley, Amelia, and Issac. Mary Ellen's siblings and their families; Clarence and Margaret Fife, Ann and Stuart Fifield, Ruth and Wayne Mann, and Peter and Valerie Fife, and very dear and lifelong friends were also in attendance. She was grateful and attentive to each one. Mary Ellen leaves many other nieces, nephew and cousins in New Hampshire and the country.

Mary Ellen graduated from Tilton-Northfield High School and received her Bachelor's degree from Keene State College in 1950. She went on to teach at the Carter School in Canterbury, the one room schoolhouse she attended as a child, before starting her family. She was continually devoted to education and served as chairman on the Canterbury School Board, being instrumental in the establishment of a school district serving the needs of Canterbury. She was the first woman to serve as a longtime member of the Canterbury Board of Selectmen. Mary Ellen was active as a youth in 4-H and continued as an active leader of 4-H in Canterbury and Merrimack County for many years. She won many county and state level awards for her dressmaking talent and cattle showmanship skills. In 4-H, education, and at the community level, Mary Ellen was organized, active and productive; a leader contributing to the positive and communal spirit of Canterbury. She taught and coached many people to sew, cook, trained and showed cattle in fairs, grew annual vegetable gardens, canned and froze produce, made crafts, and especially was a problem solver and organizer, ever conscious of keeping track of costs. With her willing community spirit, she volunteered many hours to the annual Canterbury Fair from it's genesis as a church bazaar to the current year; she planned, organized, worked and pitched in where ever needed. As a young mother, she learned rug braiding and hooking and made many beautiful rugs for her family and home throughout her lifetime. She always made her own draperies and decorated her home. She loved to travel and explore new horizons. Mary Ellen and her husband Ollie were well known for hosting numerous large family gatherings and weddings, annual high school reunions, ice-cutting parties, and entertaining small parties of friends and relatives. She was a member of Canterbury Community Church, NH Audubon, and a longtime member of the Board of Directors of Eastern States Exposition Fair where she actively participated. She managed the gift shop at Shaker Village and was an active member in the Canterbury Historical Society, where she loaned family heirlooms for many displays. Recently she completed a huge genealogical research project of the Morse family, complete with many photos and hundreds of letters maintained by her mother and grandparents for over a hundred years. Her vegetable and flower gardens were well tended and prolific. She was particularly proud to be featured on the Canterbury Garden Tour two years ago. She spent many happy hours on her hands and knees, planning, designing, building and maintaining attractive views for birds, friends, and wildlife. Her husband, family and many friends benefited tremendously from her active, productive and long life.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, February 10, 2013, at 2 p.m., at the Canterbury Community Church and Parish House.

A gravesite service will be held by the family at a later time.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to a fund to be established in Mary Ellen's name in Canterbury.