Julia E. Pfeifer, who made biblical lessons interesting to three generations of Violetville youths by teaching with clam shells, beetles and glitter, died Sunday from intestinal problems at St. Agnes HealthCare. She was 91.

Mrs. Pfeifer had hoped to teach Sunday school at Violetville United Methodist Church in Baltimore for 60 years, but fell two years short of that goal.

To illustrate the diversity of the natural world, Mrs. Pfeifer displayed fabric swatches, shells and bugs. She led the classes until her death and was preparing a classroom prop that would shimmer with glitter when she fell ill and went to the hospital.

"When I talked to the Confirmation classes and asked them to describe what a perfect Christian would be like, a number of them said, 'Miss Julia,'" said the Rev. Ann Adams, whom Mrs. Pfeifer referred to as her "other daughter."

Much of Mrs. Pfeifer's life was dedicated to the church, where she recorded donations, brought the bread and wine to Communions, and sold jewelry at church bazaars. She stopped by on weekdays to prepare lessons.

Born Julia Harrison to tobacco farmers in Mount Harmony in Calvert County, she learned to cherish religion from her mother, who moved 6-year-old Julia and four of her other five children to Baltimore after separating from her husband.

Mrs. Pfeifer's life was a hardscrabble one at first. She never finished sixth grade because she had to support the family by working odd jobs, eventually settling into a 16-year position in the accounting department of an A&P; supermarket in the city.

Dressed as a clown at a Halloween party, she met George W. Pfeifer, a machinist whom she had found "cute" even though he didn't wear a costume. They were married for 36 years, until his death in 1971.

Family was the second pillar of Mrs. Pfeifer's life. At her home, "On one wall, she's got the cross at the top and pictures of us everywhere. That's what she lived for," said Laurie Rasinski of Chester in Queen Anne's County, one of seven grandchildren.

Mrs. Pfeifer was honored for years of service to the Girl Scouts and named "Oldest Magnificent Grandparent" by the AARP's Maryland branch.

Mrs. Pfeifer walked Eastern Shore beaches with Mrs. Rasinski and regularly visited with other relatives. To remember the times, she took notes in a small spiral notebook, which she would review for days after the trips had ended.

Also in the little blue book were the dates of her grandchildren's birthdays and the names of fellow churchgoers who were sick.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Violetville United Methodist Church at Coolidge and Joh avenues.

Mrs. Pfeifer is survived by a son, David G. Pfeifer of Glen Burnie; daughters Linda H. Bragg and Nancy H. Nash of Baltimore; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.