Greenfield- Eleanor Ann (Welch) Martin, 70, of Chapman St., died Tuesday, 1/3/12, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She was born on April 7, 1941, in Detroit, MI, the daughter of Florence Elizabeth (Leightner) Welch of Pandora, OH, and Francis Arthur Welch of London, Ontario, Canada.

They moved to Western Massachusetts when she was 4, and she attended schools in Pittsfield. During her time in the Berkshires, she spent her summers at Blantyre in Lenox. In 1951 they moved to Central Massachusetts. In high school, Eleanor was an accomplished actress, and a member of the National Thespian Society; she won gold medals in both acting and prize speaking, and was selected for the All State Cast. She graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in Holden in 1959, and moved to Boston, where she worked for the National Opinion Research Center, and volunteered with the Civil Defense (Emergency Preparedness.) In 1967 she moved to Greenfield and opened her own gift shop, Sugarplum Creations. She loved Western Massachusetts and considered herself a "Born Again Yankee". She was an accomplished writer and photographer, and won an award for her entry in the Recorder's "Why I Love Greenfield" contest, as well as a Boston Globe award for a photograph taken at the Green River in Greenfield. She won several awards for her photography at the Franklin County Fair, and had a one woman photo show at Forbes Camera in Greenfield.

While in Greenfield, Eleanor also worked for the former Franklin County Hospital. In 1971 she moved to Turners Falls. She worked for CETA as the Program Coordinator for the Garden Project, which won state-wide recognition and was judged the Best Community Project in New England. She later worked as a Guidance Secretary for the Franklin County Technical School. While living in Turners Falls, she was very active in the community, serving on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Montague Housing Authority, was appointed Chairman of the Board of the new Franklin County Housing Authority, and was elected to the Montague Library Board. She was also very active in theater, and served as the President of the Board of the Montague Arts Lottery Council, and helped out with costuming and props for numerous theatre troupes including Arena Civic Theatre, The Country Players, Center Stage Theatre Company, Vermont Theatre Company, Lady of the Lake Productions, and Greenfield Community College.

Her later jobs included the Visiting Nurse Association (Administration); Community Liaison for the State Office for Children; teaching at the Greenfield Girls Club; Program Coordinator for the Red Apple Corporation in NYC; and her most beloved job, Secretary for Camp Wildwood in Bridgton, ME. Her final job before retiring was Program Coordinator for the senior meals program and Meals on Wheels in Greenfield. She then continued her education at Greenfield Community College, graduating with honors with both an Associates in Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Services and a certificate from the Outdoor Leadership Program in 1996.

Eleanor loved singing, dancing, playing guitar, gardening, crafts, quilting, making doll clothes, swimming, walking, and playing ping pong and tennis. She was an avid doll collector, and ran a doll show as a fund-raiser for the Red Cross for many years. She also obtained her producers' card at Montague Community TV. She adored animals, and was a rescuer/foster home for many, many animals over the years.

Eleanor leaves a daughter, Elisa Martin of Greenfield, and a brother, David Welch of Palm Coast, FL, as well as cherished cousins.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, 1/6/12 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Anne's Cemetery in Turners Falls.

Memorial contributions may be made to Salesian Missions, 2 Lefevre Lane, New Rochelle, NY, 10801 or Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA, 23509.