GLOUCESTER: Betsy (Towles) Johnson, 72, of East Main Street, passed away Tuesday afternoon, February 28, 2012 surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was the wife of the late Jerry Mack Johnson of Gordo, Alabama. They had shared thirty-five years of marriage. She and Jerry moved to Gloucester in 1997 from their home in Newton to relax and enjoy their retirement years surrounded by the beauty of Cape Ann.
Born in Flushing, New York on March 17, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Therritt Rankin Towles and Barbara (Beard) Reinheimer.
Betsy spent decades working as a registered nurse and will always be fondly remembered for her kind spirit, generosity and sense of humor. Both she and Jerry shared a passion for traveling, the arts, and especially animals. Well-known for rescuing any stray they found, they nurtured many a lost or injured animal back to health.
She is survived by her daughter, Jill Aldrich (Johnson) Schmidt and son, Timothy Bartlett Johnson both of Gloucester, as well as her beloved pets, Pepper the parrot and her adorable Maltipoo puppy, Miss Ruby Bliss.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. There are no visiting hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 265 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.