Betty A. Ford, 90, of Cape Neddick, Maine, died on August 30, 2022. She was born at home in Wilmot on February 20, 1932, the daughter of Crosby D. and Alice E. (Bixby) Ford, and spent her early childhood in Wilmot until the family moved to Maine at the start of World War II.
Betty graduated from York, Maine, High School in 1949, where she shared top honors with her brother.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1953, Betty went on to the Yale School of Nursing from 1953 to 1956, where she was awarded a Master’s Degree in Nursing. After her Yale graduation, she was first employed at the Visiting Nurse Association of New Haven, Connecticut, and later worked at Boston University, Massachusetts, and University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Schools of Nursing.
In due course, Betty retired from active nursing and moved back to Maine, putting her photographic expertise to work at Hovey’s Photo Supply in Portsmouth from 1981 until her retirement in 1997. In addition to photography, Betty enjoyed writing poetry and meeting with others in a writing group.
Betty was a very active member of First Parish Church, UCC, York, Maine, where she held the position of secretary of the Cemetery Commission (receiving a plaque honoring her devotion) and served on First Parish’s Funeral Collation Committee. She also served on the Town of York’s Historic Heritage sign committee for many years. A love of animals, beginning when Betty was a child, continued later in life to include treasured feline companions Mariah and Binnie.
Betty’s beloved family members and lifelong friends will sorely miss her rock-solid support, good humor (and appreciation of dry New England wit), well-grounded perspective, and her modest, considerate, loving approach to those around her.
Being a sister and aunt brought joy for Betty, and her family loved her dearly, including her brother Richard E. Ford (Susan) of Green Valley, Arizona, and other surviving family members: her niece, nephew, grand-niece, and grand-nephews; UNH classmate and erstwhile sister-in-law Ann Graves Ford (sister-in-law to Sandra Graves of East Andover); and cousins in the extended Ford-Bixby family.
A celebration of life is in the planning stage. A private interment will take place in Riverview Cemetery, Barnstead, New Hampshire, at a future date.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” (Pericles)
Memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington VT 22203; or First Parish Church, 180 York Street, York ME 03909.
To sign an online guestbook, please visit: ChadwickFuneralService.com.