MORRISVILLE - Florence LaFayette Bridges, 91, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully at her home Monday, March 16, 2009. She was born in Plainfield on Jan. 4, 1918, the daughter of Alton L. and Ruth Bailaw LaFayette.Florence attended Plainfield High School and graduated from UVM in 1940 with a B.S. degree in commerce and economics. She taught business education at Hardwick Academy for two years.On July 8, 1942, she married Homer Bridges from Sedgwick, Maine, who had transferred from Belfast, Maine, to Plainfield as manager of the H.P. Hood Company there. After being a homemaker and caring for their children for 15 years, she taught business education at Peoples Academy in Morrisville for 19 years, having to retire in 1976 because of health problems.She was a 50-plus year member of the Puffer United Methodist Church, the Lamoille Grange #233, over a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Riverside Chapter #32 in Hardwick (now Coral Chapter #16 in Morrisville), VTA, NEA, Retired Teachers Association of VT and Lamoille County Retired Teachers.Florence was devoted to her family, friends and students. After retirement, she worked many hours sewing for the Cancer Society through RSVP; she made baby crib quilts, mittens and various crafts for the Morrisville Senior Center. She had a great love of knitting, embroidering and crocheting and made over 30 large quilts for family.She lost Homer in 2003 having been married for nearly 61 years. She is survived by a daughter, Donna and her husband Richard Merriam of Morrisville; a son, David and his wife Shirley of New Philadelphia, Ohio; a son, Robert of Plainfield; and a son, Lucius and his wife Gisele of Sedgwick, Maine; grandchildren, Patrick Merriam and wife Amy; Rick Merriam and wife Brooke; Brian Bridges and wife Michele; Daniel Bridges; David Bridges and companion Debbie Fitzgerald; Jonathan, Courtney, Levi, Misha and Rachael Bridges; two step-grandchildren, Matthew and Kadie Wood; two great-grandsons, Tyler Bridges and Samuel Cabot Merriam; three great-granddaughters, Lily Elaine, Caroline Sarah and Catherine Anne Merriam. She is also survived by a sister, Irene Brown of Plainfield; sister-in-law, Harriette Bridges of Damariscotta, Maine, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Homer; a daughter, Elaine Anne, in 1951; a brother, Jerome in 1964; and a daughter-in-law, Susan Bridges.Memorial services will be held later in the spring with arrangements to be announced by White-Fiess Funeral Home.Contributions in Florence's memory may be made to Puffer United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 669, Morrisville, VT 05661 or Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, VT 05661.