FARMINGTON – Elinor W. “Ellie” Clifford, 86, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Her three daughters were with her at the time of her passing.

Ellie was born Oct. 27, 1922, in Farmington, the only child of Romanus and Estelle Weber. She graduated from Farmington High School in 1940. She attended New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied violin and went on to receive her degree from Boston University.

On Sept. 5, 1948, she became the bride of Gordon K. Clifford of South Paris. They made their home in Farmington, where they raised their family.

In addition to the joys of being a homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she enjoyed her lifelong love and gift of music. At an early age, she learned that she had an ear for music. One of her greatest joys was playing hymns and many of the “oldies but goodies” on the piano for sing-a-longs.

For many years, she shared her talent by playing for the residents of several local nursing homes, where they were blessed by her gift of music.

She was also the junior choir director for more than 30 years at the Farmington Methodist Church and was involved with Girl Scouts, Garden Club and local Bible studies.

She and her husband, Gordon, were founding member of the Farmington Baptist Church, where she served as church pianist for more than 15 years. They were also involved in Wilbur Sayles Ministries and Vacationland Ministries, both Christian organizations.

She is survived by three daughters, Pat and her husband, Charlie Coleman, of Lyman, Jan and her husband, Willie Goodman, of Windham and Nancy and her husband, Craig Turner, of West Simsbury, Conn.; four grandchildren, Peter Coleman and his wife, Lisa, Allison Coleman, Eric Turner and Andrew Turner; and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Coleman.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Dana Edwards of Livermore Falls, who was killed in 1944 in the Battle of the Bulge; and her loving husband of 51 years, Gordon, passed away in 2000.

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