Elizabeth “Betty” Werner, a long-time resident of Shelburne, passed away Thursday, August 26, 2016 at the Crow Mountain Farm in Shelburne. Betty was born in 1932 in Wellesley, MA, and attended Dennison University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory in 1953. She furthered her education at Potsdam University where she received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. In addition to a long career as a primary school teacher in Long Island, NY, Betty explored the world with her late husband Ben and their four children.
Following her retirement in 1986 she moved to Shelburne where she and Ben raised sheep (all of whom were named after the lovely ladies at the local bank in Gorham) and opened Crow Mountain Farm Antiques. Betty was a passionate conservationist and devoted volunteer at the US Forest Service. Betty realized the family’s dream of preserving for all time the many acres of old growth forest and special woodlands at the edge of the Androscoggin River. She loved both the animals of the forest and those who kept her company at home. Her love of community also found expression through her work as a volunteer at the Berlin Senior Center and the Shelburne Library. Plainly spoken and rarely thinking of herself, Betty was full of empathy for her family and her neighbors to whom she brought joy even in the most difficult circumstances.
Betty is survived by her four children Marta Werner-Storey, Rebecca Werner-Wade, Tim Werner, and Wendy Werner-Auerbach; her grandchildren, Alisha, Alex, and Tristin; her great-grandchildren, Silas, Petra, and Gavon; her god-grandchild, Chessa; and her beloved cats.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 5 PM at the Crow Mountain Farm in Shelburne. The arrangements have been entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Homes in Berlin & Gorham. Donations in Betty’s memory may be made to the Androscoggin Ranger District Office, 300 Glen Road, Gorham, NH 03581; The Mahoosuc Land Trust, PO Box 981, Bethel, ME 04217; or the HART Adoption Center & Shelter for Cats, PO Box 351, Cumberland, ME 04021. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net.