Eloise Grace Bartley, 91, of Concord, NH, passed away quietly surrounded by her loving family on January 18, 2024, the anniversary of her mother's passing. Eloise was born in Cabot, VT, in July 1932, the oldest daughter of Raymond and Jessie Batchelder. Originally living in northern Vermont, she spent most of her childhood in the Springfield, VT, area. Suffering the loss of her father while she was in high school, her mother Jessie had the strength and determination to keep the family together, raising her six children alone. Eloise graduated from Springfield High School in 1950 and then met her future husband Richard, also from Springfield. They married in 1951 while he was a Marine stationed in Cherry Point, NC.

Richard's military service and work moved them to many locations throughout New England, New York and Pennsylvania. Their family grew with the births of Jerry and Donna in their early years of marriage before returning to Vermont in 1966. They settled in Dummerston and completed their family with the birth of daughter Brenda.

Throughout the years, Eloise worked at Darrow's Orchards, Book Press, American Optical, Henry's Market, Floyd's Butcher Shop and ended her career at Nissen Bakery Outlet, where she retired in the early 1990s. After spending more than 40 years in Dummerston, Eloise moved to the Concord, NH, area to be near her daughter following the 2010 death of her husband of 59 years. She most recently lived at Presidential Oaks Assisted Living in Concord, a place she loved and where she made many friends before her passing.

Eloise was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and a friend to all. There were no strangers to her, only friends she had yet to meet. Family was always very important to her and her involvement in the Witham Family Reunion (which has continued for over 120 years) was a high point of every year.

Eloise is survived by siblings Paul Batchelder and wife Betty, Sheila Johnson and husband Bill; sisters-in-law Lois Batchelder and Brenda Mae Batchelder; children Jerry Bartley and wife Anne of Albuquerque, NM, Donna Simonds and fiancé Mark Tassinari of Pembroke, Brenda Hodges and husband Eric of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren Heather Anaya and husband Alex, David Bartley and wife Jennifer, Justin Simonds and wife Ashley, Krista Carrington and husband Russ, and Zachary Hodges; great grandchildren Gary Preston, Michael Woods, Trevor Simonds, Cameron Carrington, Denlyn Carrington, Jace Pillsbury, Landon Simonds, Logan Simonds, Ashlyn Bartley and Jordan Bartley; great-great-grandchildren Scarlett Preston and Taylin Pillsbury and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by husband Richard, father Raymond, mother Jessie, stepfather Linford Bowen, brothers Raymond, Wallace and Robert Batchelder.

A visiting hour will be held on Saturday, January 27 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at noon at Waters Funeral Home, 50 South Main St., Concord, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eloise Bartley's memory can be made to Presidential Oaks, 200 Pleasant St., Concord, NH 03301.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Brattleboro Reformer on Jan. 24, 2024.