Florence Elizabeth Proctor, of Westfield, NY, was 80 years of age when she passed away peacefully Saturday evening, November 27, 2021, at the LECOM Senior Living Center in Erie. She was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania on January 18, 1941, daughter of the late Frances (Smith) and Burdette (Irwin) Merchant. 

  She grew up in Harborcreek Township and attended Harbor Creek High School. In 1957, she married the love of her life and husband of over 30 years, John James Proctor. The couple would move to Ripley, NY in 1976 to own and manage a grape farm. Florence was employed for three decades as a school bus driver for both the Harbor Creek, and then North East School Districts. 

  Over her lifetime, she enjoyed pursuing many interests, hobbies, and activities - including hunting, flower gardening, ceramics, bird watching, and grape farming. She loved animals, and always had a cherished pet at her side. Her greatest love, however, was for the truth found in God’s Word the Bible, and was an active member of the North East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. As a very generous and caring person, she found joy in sharing what she had with others, especially the knowledge and wonderful hopes for the future she had found in the Bible.

  In addition to her parents, Florence was preceded in death by her husband, John Proctor; two brothers; Charles and Norman Merchant; a sister, Virginia “Nan” (Merchant) Dahn; as well as sons David, Matthew, and Richard Proctor, and daughter Brenda (Proctor) McClelland. She is survived by three sons; John J. Proctor and wife Sharon of North East; Robert M. Proctor and wife Kathleen of Erie; and Donald A. Proctor and wife Jackie of Wake Forest, NC, along with eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

  A virtual memorial service via Zoom will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM, with a video slide presentation beginning at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the worldwide Bible educational work @www.jw.org>donations. Burial will take place at the Riceville Cemetery at the convenience of the family with the William D. Elkin Funeral Home in North East handling the arrangements.