Eleanor Goding Bedley

Eleanor Mae Goding Bedley, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the age of 79 at her residence in Greensboro surrounded by loved ones. She was born in South Portland, Maine on September 25, 1930, the daughter of the late Zerfea and Wilfred Goding. She graduated from Woburn High School in Woburn, Massachusetts and married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Aubrey Bedley, sixty-two years ago and had six children. In Reading and Westboro, Massachusetts, she was the owner of Greenhouse Plantations specializing in growing sweet peas and carnations. In 1973 the family moved from Reading, Massachusetts to Georgia with the Delta/Northeast merger living in Fayetteville, Griffin and retiring to Lake Oconee in 1999. For a number of years, she and her husband owned and operated Yule Tree Christmas Farm in Griffin, Georgia, where she was an active member of the Georgia Christmas Tree Association. After retiring to Lake Oconee, she became a volunteer for the Lake Oconee Humane Society and dedicated many hours assisting with fund raising events. She was of the Methodist Faith. She loved traveling, boating, reading and spending time with her family.

In addition to her husband, Ralph Bedley of Greensboro, GA, Eleanor is survived by two daughters, Nancy Bedley Tkaczuk of Roswell, GA and Donna Richards and husband Anthony of Brooks, GA; three sons, Jack Bedley of Fayetteville, GA, Thomas Bedley and wife Laura of Fayetteville, GA and Richard Bedley of Eatonton, GA; daughter-in-law, Ginny Bedley of Buckhead, GA; a brother, Gilbert Goding and wife Joan of Manchester, NH; sister-in-law, Sally Harvey of Athol, Massachusetts; fifteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a son, Philip Scott Bedley of Buckhead, GA, sister, Nancy Goding; and brother, Wilfred Goding both of Woburn, Massachusetts.

Graveside services will be held Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Brooks Memorial Cemetery in Brooks, GA with Pastor Rooney Wilson officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at McCommons Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1684 Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA 30605. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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