STANDISH- Betty Ann Frances Alley Irish, age 88, was born on 03/16/1929. She passed away
peacefully with her husband at her side, at the Gorham House on 09/06/2017.
Betty Ann is survived by her husband of 70 years, Eugene L. Irish; Children:
David and wife Nancy(Toni) Irish, Jean Irish,Phd. and husband Robert Fuller,
Sandra and husband Curtis Thurston, Daniel Irish, Judy and husband Greg
Rancourt. Grandchildren, Mike Irish and Karyn Brown. Great grandson, John
C. Brown, Step-grandson, Christopher Rancourt. Nephew, Allan Strout and
Niece, Melanie Alley. Also many cousins.
Betty Ann is predeceased by her parents Lawrence W. and Annie E. Holt Alley,
Brothers, Elmer H. and Raymond L. Alley.
She was a member of the Dawn of Hope Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 193 – now part of
Cornerstone Chapter, the Rebeckahs, The Standish Historical Societies Scrapbooking
Committee- 1 of 8 members who chronicled newspaper articles of Standish's
history. She attended the Standish Congregational Church. She donated the
baby crib and high chair to the Historical Society that her father made for her; 5
children, 2 grandchildren, and a few of their cousins used them.
At 14 years of age she shot a 7 point buck to put meat on the table as both her
brothers were away in WWII. The entire neighborhood congratulated her and
came to see it.
Then she washed milk bottles and drove Harold Dolloff's milk delivery truck. She
made 76 stops, having to back out of most driveways. Having passed this test, she
went to Portland the next week and got her driver's license! She drove a school bus.
She worked at the Town Hall as an assistant town clerk alongside her brother, Elmer
for 22 years. She was a plane spotter after WWII. Her code: Echo Popper 2-4 Black.
She loved to ice skate and go sledding on Rosebush Hill, the Rand field, Paine's Hill,
and Puddin' Hill on the bobsled her uncle Lewis made. She rode her bike to
Buxton to visit her cousin Beverly and to Steep Falls with friend and future sister-in-law
Esther Irish (Edgecomb Tierney). She got rides with neighbors into Gorham, Westbrook,
and Portland to shop and go to the movies. She got rides back with other neighbors.
Wife and mother at 18, she made a comfy loving home. Dad planted and hoed the garden.
Mom harvested, canned and froze the veggies. She made jams and jellies, cakes, cookies
and pies. She had flower gardens which she faithfully kept weeded. She enjoyed watching
shooting stars with her children, and building little stick houses in the woods with them.
Her favorite things were a turquoise sky at sunset, fall's cool crisp dry air, and Autumn colors
on the mountains.
Most important to her was her family. During a bad storm or a blizzard she wanted everyone
to be home and safe.
She and her best friend, Audrey Strout, would go away for a weekend in Sept. to hike, in Acadia
National Park or the White Mountains of N.H., they did this for several years.
Betty Ann was always willing to help anyone. Everyone who knew her says, she was the sweetest,
nicest, kindest lady.
Thank you to the staff at Gorham House for all your loving care.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday Sept. 23 from 10 AM – 12 noon at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St (Rt 25) in Cornish. An Order of the Eastern Star Service will be held during the visiting hours at 11:30 AM. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Maine, 383 US Route 1, #2C, Scarborough, Maine 04074 or the Standish Historical Society, PO Box 228, Standish, Maine 04084.