Martha "Eleanor" Bassett, 88, of Franklin, NH died Friday November 12, 2010 at the Golden Crest Assisted Living Facility in Franklin. Mrs. Bassett was born in Somerville, MA on February 4, 1922, daughter of Joseph Edmund and Annie (Preston) Cox. After marrying Raymond S. Bassett in 1954, she and her husband raised their family in Sandown, NH. For many years she was active in St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Sandown where she was involved with the ladies group. Mrs. Bassett was employed as the Sandown Elementary School cook for more than 20 years. She was a former library trustee at the Sandown Public Library and was a member of the Sandown Grange.
After retiring to Ossipee, NH, she became a member of the Moultonville United Methodist Church and later the Boscawen Congregational Church where she was active with the church ladies groups. She was a talented pencil sketcher and water color artist and was well known for her baking within the communities she lived.
She is survived by her two sons, Russell Bassett and his wife Pat of Barrington, NH, Fred Bassett and wife Lori of Northwood, NH, her daughter, Kathy Reed and her husband Ron of Boscawen, 14 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, also many nieces, nephews and several cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond S. Bassett in July 2010.
Calling hours were held on Tuesday November 16, 2010 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, NH. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 10:30am in St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 328 Main St., Sandown. Burial followed in Great Hill Cemetery, Chester, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Sandown Public Library, P.O. Box 580, Sandown, NH 03873 or to the Boscawen Congregational Church, 12 High St., Boscawen, NH 03303.