YARMOUTH — Elinor F. Nackley, 95, of Cousins Island, died on May 2, at Bay Square, after a brief illness.

She was born in Phillips, May 11, 1914, the daughter of Chester and Lura Fairbanks. She graduated from Phillips High School in 1931, and from the Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in 1936. She later had educational courses in nursing administration at the University of Maine and Boston College.

One of her first positions as a young nurse was as a camp nurse for J. P. Morgan of New York, who owned summer camps in Flagstaff, where employees and families from New York City and Philadelphia came for summer vacations.

In 1939, she was appointed assistant night supervisor of the Maine General Hospital and later the night supervisor until 1950, when she became assistant director of nursing services, a position she held until 1963. During that time, she was instrumental in establishing the first intensive care unit at Maine Medical Center. In 1966, she was appointed nurse consultant for the Department of Health and Human Services of the State of Maine, serving until 1976, when she became director of the licensing program for hospitals and nursing homes. She retired in 1986.

In 1951, she married Worthen “Bud” Cornish, who died in 1954. In 1963, she married George N. Nackley, M.D., and they lived in Machias until he retired in 1993, when they moved to Cousins Island.

She was very active in professional nursing associations, having served as president of the Maine State Nurses’ Association and the Maine State Board of Nursing. She was adamant in her efforts to improve the economic welfare of nurses.

When she retired, the Maine Health Care Association honored her with the “Better Life Award” in 1985, in recognition of her commitment to quality nursing home care. She received a special citation from the Maine State Legislature for loyal and distinguished service as director of the Division of Licensing and Certification in the Bureau of Medical Services.

Surviving are her husband, George N. Nackley, M.D.; nephew, Stephen Fairbanks, wife, Donna and son, Lorne of Leeds; nephew, Jonathan Shute and wife, Linda, of North Yarmouth; nephew, Carl Lilieberg and wife, Laura, of Virginia Beach, Va.; a niece, Alicia Giftos and husband, Sotero, of Scarborough; stepdaughter, Susan Connors, M.D. of Hopedale, Mass.; stepdaughter, Linda Covino of Burlington, Mass.; daughter-in-law, Anita Cornish, R.N. of Buxton; granddaughter, Christine Cornish of Buxton; grandson, Kenneth Cornish and wife, Amy, of Limington; and a very special dear friend, Frances Jortberg of Portland.