Eleanor "Ellie" (Grant) Drown

New London, NH  - Eleanor “Ellie” Drown died at her home on August 1st surrounded by her daughters.  She was 91 years old.

Born February 25, 1926 to Peter and Corinne (Bergstrand) Grant in Indianapolis, Indiana, she was the youngest of 6 children.  Ellie graduated Shortridge High School, Indianapolis in 1944 and from New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, Boston, Massachusetts in 1947. 

After working as an RN in Boston, Ellie moved to North Conway, New Hampshire and worked at North Conway Hospital.  There she met Oliver Drown, who had been recently discharged from service in World War II and was working temporarily as a ski instructor.  They became engaged and married in Jackson, New Hampshire in 1951. 

Eleanor and Oliver lived in Keene, NH while Oliver attended and graduated from Keene Teachers College in 1954 when they moved to Newport, New Hampshire and lived there for 34 years.  Ellie did part-time nursing and was involved in many community activities.  After Oliver’s retirement from Sugar River Savings Bank, they moved to Eastman (Grantham, New Hampshire) and enjoyed almost 20 years of retirement – skiing, golf, tennis, sailing and canoeing. 

Both enjoyed good health and much outdoor activity until Oliver developed COPD at which time they moved to Hilltop in New London, New Hampshire.  He passed away in 2009.  Ellie was also predeceased by their daughter, Barbara, in 1971, her 4 brothers and her sister – Lewis, Peter, Donald and David Grant and Virginia Temple.  Oliver and Ellie had 3 daughters – Cindy (Bob) Cowie, Karen (Jay) Maguire, Susan (Chris) O’Leary; 8 grandchildren – Kim (Will) Kellogg, Meredith Cowie (Kevin Vigneault), Taylor Cowie (Kristen Massingham), Christy, Lindsay and Michael Maguire, Cameron and Madison O’Leary; 4 great-grandchildren – Abby and Rob Kellogg, Emerson Vigneault and Reese Cowie.  Ellie always put family first, the center of her life, and they loved her very much.

A celebration of her life will be held at The South Congregational Church, Newport, NH at 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 24, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The South Congregational Church, 20 Church Street, Newport, NH 03773 or to The Lake Sunapee Area VNA and Hospice, Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.

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