1925 – 2003

ROCKPORT – Eleanor Spier Learnard, 77, of Camden died Monday, June 23, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

Born in Durham, on Sept. 5, 1925, she was the daughter of John Fred Spier and Etta Parker Spier. She lived there until December of 2002 when she moved to Camden. She was the beloved wife of Donald Carl Learnard. They were wed in Lisbon Falls on April 17, 1948.

She was involved in veteran’s organizations, but her greatest passion was the Amvets Auxiliary. She had been a paid life member of this organization since 1964.

She was a charter member of Post 13 in Durham and served in every elected office including President for the local post, holding the current elected title of treasurer at the time of her death.

At the State level she served as President in 1975 -1976, 1st and 2nd Vice President and Parliamentarian during other years. She was instrumental in developing a scholarship fund at the local post for students seeking post secondary education.

Her endeavors with this and other organizations earned several accolades some of which were State of Maine commendations from the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1977. She was the recipient of Distinguished Member of the Year for the Amvets Auxiliary in 1978.

She also was a member of the Durham Vol. Fire Department before there was an auxiliary for women to join. She served as Master and many other offices of the Eureka Grange in Durham. She served at the state level for several years as a member of a traveling installing degree team with Maine State Grange.

She took an active role in Democratic politics at the local and state level. She was respected for her math capabilities, serving as ballot clerk for many years during the time ballots were counted and calculated by hand in Durham.

Surviving is her husband, Donald Learnard of Camden; one son, Gregory Learnard and his wife, Linda of Lincolnville; one daughter, Sheila Carey and her husband, Donald of Westminster, Md.; one brother, John Fred Spier III of Durham; four grandsons, Jeremy Huston of Lisbon Falls, Nicholas and Brandon Learnard of Lincolnville, and Ryan Cox of Topsham; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a brother, Ralph Spier.