OBITUARY: Eliot L. Blood

Elliot L. Blood, Jr., 93, of West Groton, died Tuesday morning, October 25, 2016, at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, Littleton. His wife of 70 years, Doris M. (Lindall) Blood died March 25th of this year.

Mr. Blood was born in West Groton, March 26, 1923, the son of Elliot L. and Ruth (Smalley) Blood and was a lifelong resident of West Groton. He leaves two sons, Richard E. Blood of West Groton; Jeffrey E. Blood and his wife, Ethel-Rita, of Cobleskill, NY; his daughter-in-law, Sharon Blood of Groton; six grandchildren, Sarah Blood, Richard Blood Jr, Amy Blood, Meghan (Blood) Mason, Bonnie Kane, Matthew Blood; and five great- grandchildren, Logan Mason, Levi Szentmiklosy, Landen Harmon, Travis Blood and Kaislyn Kane. He was predeceased by his sister, Ella Gale of West Groton.

Affectionately known to everyone as Barney, Mr. Blood was a well-loved member of the Groton community, known for his generosity, support for West Groton and donation of land to the Town Forest among other contributions to the town.

He was a member of the Blood family, one of the oldest families on record in Groton and which has continuously owned and operated Blood Farm in West Groton since the early 1800s. Mr. Blood owned and operated the farm, a business he took over from his father and continues on today in its fifth generation of family operation. When the smokehouse and other farm structures burned to the ground several years ago, town residents rallied to support the family and employees as they re-built and re-opened within a year.

A well-respected elder statesman and town father, Barney served as a member of the Board of Selectmen among other positions in town, and was currently a member of the Groton Cemetery Commission. He was a member of the West Groton Christian Union Church and had owned and raised Pacer horses. He was an excellent marksman, an avid hunter and target shooter.

Groton Board of Selectman Chairman and neighbor Jack Petropoulos said, “Barney has long held a unique place in this town, especially in the West Groton community. It was not uncommon to see him ‘holding court’ with elected officials and aspiring candidates in his front sitting room where he could watch the comings and goings of his business and dispense the wisdom of his years. His unique Yankee accent and pragmatic approach to life always held a lesson. I enjoyed knowing him as a neighbor, a service provider, an advisor and as a friend. The sign in front of the farm references the longevity of the Blood legacy. We are entering a new chapter as yet another generation passes the torch.”

Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, November 5th at Christian Union Church, 37 West Main Street, PO Box 223, West Groton, MA 01472. Burial will be in Groton Cemetery.

Calling hours are 4-7 PM Friday, Nov. 4th at the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Rd, (Rte 2A) Ayer. Please see www.andersonfuneral.com for additional information.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Union Church.